A comparison study of career satisfaction and emotional states between primary care and speciality residents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate career satisfaction, emotional states and positive and negative experiences among residents in primary care and speciality programmes in 1 academic medical centre prior to the implementation of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's (ACGME) duty hour requirements.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
All 581 residents in the academic health centre were asked to participate voluntarily in a confidential survey; 327(56%) completed the survey.


RESULTS
Compared to their primary care colleagues, speciality residents had higher levels of satisfaction with career choice, feelings of competence and excitement, lower levels of inferiority and fatigue and different perceptions of positive and negative training experiences. However, 77% of all respondents were consistently or generally pleased with their career choices. The most positive residents' experiences related to interpersonal relationships and their educational value; the most negative experiences related to interpersonal relationships and issues perceived to be outside of residents' control. Age and training level, but not gender also influenced career satisfaction, emotional states and positive and negative opinions about residency.


CONCLUSIONS
Less satisfaction with career choice and more negative emotional states for primary care residents compared to speciality residents probably relate to the training experience and may influence medical students' selections of careers. The primary care residents, compared to speciality residents, appear to have difficulty in fulfilling their ideals of professionalism in an environment where they have no control. These data provide baseline information with which to compare these same factors after the implementation of the ACGME duty hours' and competency requirements.
Girard
Donald E
DE
Graduate Medical Education, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road L-102, Portland, OR 97239, USA. girardd@ohsu.edu
Choi
Dongseok
D
Dickey
Jamie
J
Dickerson
Dina
D
Bloom
Joseph D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002321:Career Choice; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013038:Specialization; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology