Thematic analysis comparing stressors for pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a large children’s hospital
Introduction Pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows experience a significant number of stressors during training, but they have rarely been self-reported or compared between groups. This qualitative study aimed to identify and compare themes of stressors experienced by pediatric residents and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Annals of Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2022.2148731 |
| _version_ | 1811319096487182336 |
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| author | Nimisha Bajaj Suzanne M. Reed |
| author_facet | Nimisha Bajaj Suzanne M. Reed |
| author_sort | Nimisha Bajaj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows experience a significant number of stressors during training, but they have rarely been self-reported or compared between groups. This qualitative study aimed to identify and compare themes of stressors experienced by pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a single large children’s hospital.Materials and methods Using an open-ended survey at single time point for each group, we asked residents and fellows to list the stressors they face in training. The survey data was iteratively analyzed using thematic analysis then quantified by its frequency in each group and compared using a chi-square distribution or a Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate.Results Twenty-eight of 159 residents (18%) and 38 of 180 fellows (21%) answered the survey question, and an average of 2.8 stressors were identified by each resident and fellow. Two major themes and five major subthemes were shared between both groups. The theme Stressors at Home included the subthemes Difficulty Maintaining Overall Health and External Stressors. The theme Stressors at Work encompassed the subthemes Clinical Stressors Innate to Patient Care, Demanding Workload and Schedule, and Stressors Related to Culture of Work Environment. Within the subthemes, there were differences in categories of stressors between the groups. While there was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of themes, subthemes, or categories of stressors mentioned between groups, in general residents identified stressors associated with lack of autonomy and control whereas fellows focused on clinical uncertainty and complex situations.Conclusions While residents and fellows shared similar themes and subthemes for stressors, there was variability between individual categories. This study identified individual self-reported stressors that can be used by programs to design interventions to improve trainee well-being, but it also implies that programmatic support at different levels of training should be tailored to the target group.KEY MESSAGEAt our hospital, we found that some self-reported stressors facing pediatric residents and fellows were common and some unique.Stressors included those that can be eliminated or diminished as well as those that cannot.With knowledge that these disparities exist, training programs should use unique strategies to provide support for the two groups and their stressors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:36:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d77e176c47c4726ba455470607ebeb8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0785-3890 1365-2060 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:36:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d77e176c47c4726ba455470607ebeb82022-12-22T02:46:38ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of Medicine0785-38901365-20602022-12-015413333334110.1080/07853890.2022.2148731Thematic analysis comparing stressors for pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a large children’s hospitalNimisha Bajaj0Suzanne M. Reed1Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USADepartment of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USAIntroduction Pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows experience a significant number of stressors during training, but they have rarely been self-reported or compared between groups. This qualitative study aimed to identify and compare themes of stressors experienced by pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a single large children’s hospital.Materials and methods Using an open-ended survey at single time point for each group, we asked residents and fellows to list the stressors they face in training. The survey data was iteratively analyzed using thematic analysis then quantified by its frequency in each group and compared using a chi-square distribution or a Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate.Results Twenty-eight of 159 residents (18%) and 38 of 180 fellows (21%) answered the survey question, and an average of 2.8 stressors were identified by each resident and fellow. Two major themes and five major subthemes were shared between both groups. The theme Stressors at Home included the subthemes Difficulty Maintaining Overall Health and External Stressors. The theme Stressors at Work encompassed the subthemes Clinical Stressors Innate to Patient Care, Demanding Workload and Schedule, and Stressors Related to Culture of Work Environment. Within the subthemes, there were differences in categories of stressors between the groups. While there was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of themes, subthemes, or categories of stressors mentioned between groups, in general residents identified stressors associated with lack of autonomy and control whereas fellows focused on clinical uncertainty and complex situations.Conclusions While residents and fellows shared similar themes and subthemes for stressors, there was variability between individual categories. This study identified individual self-reported stressors that can be used by programs to design interventions to improve trainee well-being, but it also implies that programmatic support at different levels of training should be tailored to the target group.KEY MESSAGEAt our hospital, we found that some self-reported stressors facing pediatric residents and fellows were common and some unique.Stressors included those that can be eliminated or diminished as well as those that cannot.With knowledge that these disparities exist, training programs should use unique strategies to provide support for the two groups and their stressors.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2022.2148731Pediatricsresidencyfellowshipstressorsself-reportedwell-being |
| spellingShingle | Nimisha Bajaj Suzanne M. Reed Thematic analysis comparing stressors for pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a large children’s hospital Annals of Medicine Pediatrics residency fellowship stressors self-reported well-being |
| title | Thematic analysis comparing stressors for pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a large children’s hospital |
| title_full | Thematic analysis comparing stressors for pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a large children’s hospital |
| title_fullStr | Thematic analysis comparing stressors for pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a large children’s hospital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thematic analysis comparing stressors for pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a large children’s hospital |
| title_short | Thematic analysis comparing stressors for pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a large children’s hospital |
| title_sort | thematic analysis comparing stressors for pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at a large children s hospital |
| topic | Pediatrics residency fellowship stressors self-reported well-being |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2022.2148731 |
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