Personal growth during internship: a qualitative analysis of interns' responses to key questions.
BACKGROUND
During clinical training, house officers frequently encounter intense experiences that may affect their personal growth. The purpose of this study was to explore processes related to personal growth during internship.


METHODS
Prospective qualitative study conducted over the course of internship.


METHODS
Thirty-two postgraduate year (PGY)-1 residents from 9 U.S. internal medicine training programs.


METHODS
Every 8 weeks, interns responded by e-mail to an open-ended question related to personal growth. Content analysis methods were used to analyze the interns' writings to identify triggers, facilitators, and barriers related to personal growth.


RESULTS
Triggers for personal growth included caring for critically ill or dying patients, receiving feedback, witnessing unprofessional behavior, experiencing personal problems, and dealing with the increased responsibility of internship. Facilitators of personal growth included supportive relationships, reflection, and commitment to core values. Fatigue, lack of personal time, and overwhelming work were barriers to personal growth. The balance between facilitators and barriers may dictate the extent to which personal growth occurs.


CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to support personal growth during residency training include fostering supportive relationships, encouraging reflection, and recognizing interns' core values especially in association with powerful triggers.
Levine
Rachel B
RB
Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. rlevine@jhmi.edu
Haidet
Paul
P
Kern
David E
DE
Beasley
Brent W
BW
Bensinger
Lisa
L
Brady
Donald W
DW
Gress
Todd
T
Hughes
Jennifer
J
Marwaha
Ajay
A
Nelson
Jennifer
J
Wright
Scott M
SM
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*