title: How surgical residents spend their training time: the effect of a goal-oriented work style on efficiency and work satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  When work hours are limited, improving residents' work efficiency allows more time for key training activities, reduces frustration, and improves work satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  General surgical service with a trauma program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five full-time attending physicians, a resident team of 9 members, and 3 surgical assistants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reorganization of work habits based on a goal-oriented work style.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes of time spent in key activities; punctuality for operations, clinics, and conferences; residents' work satisfaction, physical fatigue, and mental stress; and attending physician and patient evaluations of residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A goal-oriented work style reduced round time and nonpurposeful time and improved punctuality for key education activities. More operative time could be accommodated within the work-hours limits. Residents' work satisfaction improved while mental stress was reduced. Patient satisfaction scores also increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Residents' work is generally inefficient. Reduced work hours should be accompanied by work-habit reform to make the best use of residents' training time.
authors: Department of Surgery, Huron Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Health System, Cleveland, Ohio 44112, USA. rskchung@hotmail.com
authors: Raphael S
authors: RS
authors: Chung
authors: Naveed
authors: N
authors: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery