Personality testing may improve resident selection in anesthesiology programs.
BACKGROUND
Current methods of selecting future residents for anesthesiology training programs do not adequately distinguish those who will succeed from the pool of seemingly well-qualified applicants. Some residents, despite high exam scores, may struggle in the operating room (OR) in stressful situations.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether specific neuropsychological and personality measures can distinguish high competency residents from low-competency residents to aid in resident selection.


METHODS
Twenty-five residents enrolled in an anesthesiology program at a major academic institution were identified for participation. Thirteen were evaluated as "high competency" residents and 12 as "low competency" by the department's clinical competency committee. Groups were evaluated on measures of fine motor dexterity, executive functioning, processing speed, attention, and personality.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between groups on measures of fine-motor dexterity, executive functioning, processing speed, or attention. High competency residents scored significantly higher than low-competency residents on measures of cooperation, self-efficacy, and adventurousness, and lower on measures of neuroticism, anxiety, anger, and vulnerability.


CONCLUSIONS
Although measures of fine-motor dexterity, executive functioning, processing speed, and attention do not appear to distinguish between high- and low-competency residents in anesthesiology, specific personality characteristics may be associated with success in an anesthesiology training program.
Merlo
Lisa J
LJ
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0254, USA.
Matveevskii
Alexander S
AS
D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States