title: Satisfaction and gender issues in otolaryngology residency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the otolaryngology residency experience with attention to operative experience, career guidance, and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Otolaryngology residents were anonymously surveyed by mail about their residency experience. The 22-item survey was scored on a 5-point ordinal Likert scale. Responses were analyzed with respect to gender and postgraduate year (PGY) level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete surveys were returned by 261 otolaryngology residents (24% female). PGY level correlated with confidence that surgical skills were appropriate (P = 0.003), establishment of solid career network (P = 0.003), and confidence that surgical abilities are adequate for practice (P = 0.028). Female residents reported less confidence that surgical skills were appropriate (P = 0.050) and that surgical abilities were adequate for postresidency practice (P = 0.035). Women were encouraged to enter private practice more often (P = 0.012), were less likely to have a solid career network ( P = 0.025), and were less confident about being able to run their own practice (P = 0.036)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant differences exist for several questions regarding surgical confidence and career issues, even after correction for PGY level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA. rhoda.wynn@downstate.edu
authors.forename: Rhoda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wynn
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: Frank E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Lucente
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data