Impact of personality, sex, and generation on resident operative role

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine if gender, generation, or personality traits influence resident perception of their operative role.

Materials and methods: Over a 4-wk period, daily surveys were sent to residents and staff to assess the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) role of residents on operative cases. Personality was assessed on completion of the survey period using the big five inventory (BFI).

Results: In 184 paired responses, resident perception of their operative role and staff reported resident role coincided in 82.1% surveys. In instances when resident perception differed from staff assessment, neither gender nor generation correlated with discrepancy between resident and staff assessment. High BFI agreeableness of staff was associated with more disparity, and high BFI neuroticism scores of staff translated to less disparity between resident-perceived and staff-assessed operative roles (odds ratio 2.63, P = 0.003 and odds ratio 0.44, P = 0.002, respectively).

Conclusions: This study demonstrates agreement between resident and staff reports of ACGME resident operative role in most cases; however, staff personality traits influenced resident's perception of their operative role. Perceived underparticipation in operative cases may influence a resident's experience during training, which may impact their reporting of operative experience to the ACGME.

Keywords: ACGME; General surgery residency; Graduate medical education; Operative role; Resident case volume; Resident education.