title: Improving comprehensive surgical resident training through use of the NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory: results from a cohort-based trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study uses the NEO-Five Factor Personality Inventory (NEO) to assess its value in identifying resident educational needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of surgical residents (n = 65) were administered the NEO. Statistical analysis compared the results between previously determined national norms and between varying resident demographics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The resident scores of Extroversion, Openness, and Conscientiousness were significantly higher than those of the US population and Agreeableness was significantly lower. By gender, only Agreeableness was statistically higher for female residents. The mean Extroversion score for residents who were postgraduate years (PGYs) 3 to 5 was significantly higher than that of PGYs 1 to 2. Further subanalyses were conducted on each primary component.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NEO was valuable for identifying areas where training could be especially useful to augment Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies. The use of this test on resident populations could be of significant value for tailoring comprehensive surgical leadership education programs.
authors.affiliation: University of St Thomas, Cameron School of Business, Houston, TX 77006, USA. horwiti@stthom.edu
authors.forename: Irwin B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Horwitz
authors.forename: Sujin K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Horwitz
authors.forename: F Charles
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Brunicardi
authors.forename: Samir S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Awad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010556:Personality Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas