The challenge of problem residents.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Internal Medicine Training
• Resident Well-being

Background:

• Internal medicine residency is demanding, leading to professional and personal difficulties for trainees.
• Problem residents are a persistent challenge in residency programs globally.
• Existing literature often focuses narrowly on impairment, such as substance abuse or depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of "problem residents" in internal medicine.
• To focus on the identification, underlying causes, management, and prevention of resident issues.
• To offer evidence-based recommendations for training programs.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review.
• Analysis of data from program director interviews.
• Inclusion of insights from national professional meetings and workshops.

Main Results:

• Identified key areas: identification, causes, management, and prevention of resident problems.
• Highlighted existing knowledge gaps and areas needing further research.
• Synthesized available data to inform best practices.

Conclusions:

• Training programs require robust systems for identifying and managing residents facing difficulties.
• A multi-faceted approach addressing causes, management, and prevention is crucial.
• Further research is needed to enhance understanding and improve outcomes for trainees.