A Nationwide Study in Türkiye on General Surgery Residents' Satisfaction: Challenges and Realities

This study aims to evaluate the satisfaction of general surgery residents with their specialty choice in terms of exposure to mobbing, the effects of the pandemic process, burnout, anxiety, and depression levels.

The study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional online survey. A 73-item questionnaire, created in a digital format, was shared after obtaining the participants' consent by contacting 93 clinics providing general surgery training in Türkiye. General surgery residents undergoing training and agreeing to participate in the survey were included in the study. The questionnaire included items assessing participants' demographic characteristics, professional opinions, experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and exposure to workplace mobbing. In addition, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), 2 validated psychometric instruments, were used to assess levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout.

A total of 552 participants took part in the study. In the past 3 months, 44.7% reported making a medical error, and 61.4% had considered resigning at least once during residency. Gender discrimination was significantly more prevalent among female participants (p < 0.001) and was associated with higher resignation consideration (p = 0.045). Elevated anxiety (53.3%) and depression (82.4%) scores were common. High levels of emotional exhaustion (72.5%) and depersonalization (74.6%) were also observed, while 8.3% had low personal accomplishment. Burnout, anxiety, and depression scores were significantly higher among those who reported medical errors, considered resignation, or experienced gender discrimination (p < 0.05).

Among general surgery residents in Türkiye, those who considered resignation, made medical errors, or experienced gender discrimination were found to have higher levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout. Additionally, anxiety and depression were higher in residents who slept less than 40 hours per week, worked more than 80 hours per week, experienced verbal or emotional abuse, were unable to spend sufficient time with their family and loved ones, and spent less than an hour in the operating room.