title: Residents in distress: an exploration of assistance-seeking and reporting behaviors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explores assistance-seeking and reporting behaviors in surgical residents faced with stressful circumstances.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three surgical societies distributed a multiple choice, free-text response survey to residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred sixty-four residents (39% male) responded; 58% of women (43% men) were married; and 22% of men (7% women) were international medical graduates. Residents' dominant action to colleagues' concerning behavior was to approach him/her directly. Women were more likely to report colleagues' unpredictable behavior toward staff (28% vs 10%, P < .05), alcohol on breath at work (53% vs 32%, P = nonsignificant), and personal hygiene deterioration (15% vs 2%, P < .05) to an authority. Men were more likely to ignore frequent interpersonal conflicts and illnesses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male and female surgery residents adopt different strategies in dealing with perceived distress in their colleagues. These impact their response to signs of impairment. Educators should consider sex while providing residents with an understanding of their role in the recognition of personal impairment and that of their peers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois School of Medicine, PO Box 19638, Springfield, IL 62794, USA. Electronic address: hsanfey@siumed.edu.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sanfey
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fromson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois School of Medicine, PO Box 19638, Springfield, IL 62794, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mellinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois School of Medicine, PO Box 19638, Springfield, IL 62794, USA.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rakinic
authors.affiliation: Professional Renewal Center, Lawrence, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Betsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Assistance-seeking behaviors; Reporting behaviors; Residents in distress