Satisfaction and gender issues in otolaryngology residency

• Published in: Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery Vol. 132; no. 6; pp. 823 - 827
• Main Authors: Wynn, Rhoda, Rosenfeld, Richard M., Lucente, Frank E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Mosby, Inc 01-06-2005; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Adult; Clinical Competence; Female; Humans; Internship and Residency - statistics & numerical data; Job Satisfaction; Male; Mentors; Otolaryngology - education; Sex Factors; Students, Medical - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0194-5998; 1097-6817
• DOI: 10.1016/j.otohns.2005.03.009

To evaluate the otolaryngology residency experience with attention to operative experience, career guidance, and gender.
Otolaryngology residents were anonymously surveyed by mail about their residency experience. The 22-item survey was scored on a 5-point ordinal Likert scale. Responses were analyzed with respect to gender and postgraduate year (PGY) level.
Complete surveys were returned by 261 otolaryngology residents (24% female). PGY level correlated with confidence that surgical skills were appropriate (
P = 0.003), establishment of solid career network (
P = 0.003), and confidence that surgical abilities are adequate for practice (
P = 0.028). Female residents reported less confidence that surgical skills were appropriate (
P = 0.050) and that surgical abilities were adequate for postresidency practice (
P = 0.035). Women were encouraged to enter private practice more often (
P = 0.012), were less likely to have a solid career network (
P = 0.025), and were less confident about being able to run their own practice (
P = 0.036)
Significant differences exist for several questions regarding surgical confidence and career issues, even after correction for PGY level.