Identifying and prioritizing the stressors of obstetrics and gynecology residents

Studies have shown that the obstetrics and gynecology residents face severe burnout and a large number of stressors, and excessive stress could adversely affect performance and quality of patient care. Thus, the current study attempts to identify and prioritize the stressors of obstetrics and gynecology residents at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

A cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 62 residents and faculty members in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2022. Respondents were selected by census method. The stressors of obstetrics and gynecology residents were investigated using a researcher-made, 37-item questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared based on a literature review and respondents' opinions, then its validity and reliability were confirmed. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 20, non-parametric Friedman's test, and descriptive statistics methods.

This study included 46 respondents (74%), 16 faculty members, and 30 residents, who were asked to rate each stressor of the given questionnaire. The residents and their teachers believed that the main stressors were heavy workloads, lack of personal time, long shifts, financial problems, sleep deprivation, and compassion fatigue. Insufficient study time, study workload, and inappropriate assessment systems for residents were among the high-priority stressors, according to the residents. However, the faculty members reported medical errors, unreasonable expectations from residents, and residents' multiple responsibilities as high-priority stressors. According to the Friedman's test, there was a significant difference in rates received from both the faculty members and medical residents (P value <0/001).

The stressors due to the nature of obstetrics and gynecology, medical care, residency training, and medical resident assessment are the highest priority. The findings of this study could be beneficial to the officials in residency training programs to take the necessary corrective actions.