Resident stress in the new postgraduate clinical training system / 医学教育

ABSTRACT

Postgraduate residents face formidable stress. Unfortunately, many residents withdraw from training programs because of reactions to stress, such as depression. We performed a comprehensive study to examine the working conditions and stress of residents to improve the conditions of resident-training programs and reduce levels of stress.<BR>1) The study examined 548 first-year residents starting postgraduate clinical training at 41 hospitals in Japan. A selfadministered questionnaire, which included questions about working conditions, job stressors, buffer factors, and stress reactions, was answered before and 2 months after the start of training.<BR>2) A total of 318 subjects completed the survey.Of these subjects, 80 (25.2%) had depression after the start of training.<BR>3) Job stress patterns of residents were characterized by high workload and extremely low “reward from work” and “Job control.”<BR>4) Many residents had depression after the start of training.To improve residency programs, program directors should recognize the specific characteristics of residents' job stress and focus on buffer factors.