Support services for pediatric trainees. A survey of training program directors

We conducted a survey of pediatric training program directors (75% response rate) regarding program support services for house staff, directors' attitudes about stress in training, and program plans to ameliorate such stress. Support services included explicit measures to alleviate stress, policies that may minimize stress, evaluation of house staff performance, feedback regarding career concerns, and benefits (eg, medical insurance and child care). Most programs offered services to reduce stress from training, but few offered preventive services. Support policies were reported to be inadequate, especially in the areas of coverage for leaves of absence. Maternity leave represented most leaves of absences, as 10% of the female house staff and 11% of the male house staff members became parents. Program directors' terms were short, and only 30% perceived these roles to be their primary roles. Male directors believed that female house officers had a harder time adjusting to their programs. We suggest changes and present a simple way for program directors to evaluate their support services.