Influence of Residency Training on Personal Stress and Impairment in Family Life: Analysis of Related Factors

Objectives:This cross-sectional study was designed to assess the level of stress among residents and stress-related impairment of family life. Subjects and Methods: A 41-item anonymous questionnaire was designed to determine the level of stress and its effects on the residents’ family as well as factors associated with stress during residency training in a tertiary-care hospital accredited with official resident training ‘Medicos Internos Residentes’ in Murcia, Spain. Questionnaires were distributed in sealed nominal envelopes during February and March 2002 to 227 eligible residents. Results: Of the 227 residents, 175 (77%) completed and returned the questionnaires. Forty-two percent of residents recognized that residency training caused an important level of stress and 21% felt that stress interfered with family relationships. Both factors were significantly associated. Feelings of being unsatisfied with supervision of care and achievement of training objectives as well as low satisfaction with residency training and poor assessment of the hospital were significant stressors. Impairment in family life was significantly dependent on degree of satisfaction with residency training and evaluation of the hospital. Conclusion: The data showed that residency training generated stress and impaired family life. These were closely associated with perception of being unsatisfied with the residency training and evaluation.