Research article summary (published 29 Nov 2007):

General surgery resident attrition and the 80-hour workweek.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
This study examines the effect of implementation of the resident duty-hour regulations on the attrition rate of general surgery residents.

METHODS:
A 7-part survey encompassing the 2001 to 2004 academic years was sent to program directors of general surgery residency programs in the United States.

RESULTS:
One hundred twenty-four of 252 programs (49%) responded, reporting a loss of 338 categorical residents. The total attrition rate increased from .6 residents lost/program/y to .8 residents/program/y (P = .0013). Lifestyle concerns were the most commonly reported reason for residents leaving during surgical training. The majority (56%) of those who left surgery entered other fields of medicine (ie, Anesthesia and Family Medicine most commonly).

CONCLUSIONS:
More residents are leaving general surgery training since the institution of the 80-hour workweek. Despite improvements in work hours and lifestyle during surgical training, residents migrate to specialties that are conducive to a more controllable lifestyle after experiencing surgery residency.

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Author information

Author/s: Everett, Christopher B (CB); Helmer, Stephen D (SD); Osland, Jacqueline S (JS); Smith, R Stephen (RS);

Affiliation: Department of Surgery, Room 3082, The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, 929 N. Saint Francis St, Wichita, KS 67214, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: American journal of surgery (Am J Surg), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Dec; vol 194 (issue 6) : pp 751-6; discussion 756-7

Dates: Created 2007/11/16;

PMID: 18005766, status: In-Process (last retrieval date: 11/7/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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