Residents' perceptions of their working conditions during residency training at PIMS

To determine the residents' perceptions of their current working conditions by measuring their level of satisfaction with the existing pattern of workload, working environment and residential/ financial standards.

Cross-sectional survey.

The Department of Medical Education, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, during September and October 2008.

Residents of different specialties who had been undergoing residency training at PIMS for no less than one year were included. A questionnaire was employed which addressed three components of residency programme including workload, working environment and financial/residential aspect of training. Supplemental questions regarding impression of the overall working environment was asked. A five point response scale was used to rate responses to the questions in each of the three components of residency programme.

Response rate was 73%. Among the 109 respondents, 74 (68%) were males while 35 (32%) were females. Seventy three (67%) were pursuing FCPS and 36 (27%) were pursuing other degree programmes including MS, MD, MCPS and M.Phil. The age range was 25 to 41 years with a mean of 31.60 + or - 4 years. Working environment was the highest rated area with index score of 67%. Financial and residential aspect of training was the lowest rated area with a score of 37%. Workload 's index score was 46.78%. The overall working index score was 26.23%.

Residents perceived marked problems with their working conditions as indicated by their unfavourable ratings of the various components of the residency programme. There were problems with workload, duty hours, working environment, income and accommodation. Further research is needed to confirm and improve upon these results.