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The Surgical Personality: Does Surgery Resident Motivation Predict Attrition?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Symer, MM; Abelson, JS; Yeo, HL; Sosa, JA; Rosenthal, MZ
Published in: J Am Coll Surg
May 2018

BACKGROUND: There is limited understanding of the wide variation in attrition rates among general surgery residencies. We used the validated Behavior Inhibitory System/Behavior Approach System (BIS/BAS) instrument to compare motivational traits among residents who did and not complete surgical training. STUDY DESIGN: All US general surgery categorical interns in the class of 2007-2008 were surveyed with a validated motivational trait assessment tool. American Board of Surgery records from 2008-2016 were used to determine who completed training. Motivation, an aspect of personality, was assessed with the BIS/BAS, which correlates with an individual's tendency to approach pleasant stimuli (BAS) or avoid negative stimuli (BIS). Subscale mean scores were compared with regard to the primary end point, attrition. RESULTS: Eight hundred and one (76.5%) interns completed the survey and had matching records. Six hundred and forty-five (80.5%) completed training. Men had lower scores than women in the BAS Drive subscale (12.0 vs 12.5; p < 0.002), BAS Reward Response subscale (17.2 vs 17.7; p < 0.01), and BIS scale (19.3 vs 20.9; p < 0.01). The BAS Reward Response scores differed based on program type (academic 17.3 vs community 17.6 vs military 16.6; p < 0.0027). There were no differences based on program size (BIS average, small program 19.9 vs large program 19.7; p = 0.43). There were also no differences in BIS/BAS subscale scores based on residency completion status (BIS mean: completed 19.9 vs dropped out 20.1; p = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery residents are characterized by a strong drive and persistence toward their goals. However, residents who drop out do not differ from those who complete training in their motivational personality traits.

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Published In

J Am Coll Surg

DOI

EISSN

1879-1190

Publication Date

May 2018

Volume

226

Issue

5

Start / End Page

777 / 783

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Surgery
  • Surgeons
  • Personnel Turnover
  • Motivation
  • Male
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • General Surgery
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Symer, M. M., Abelson, J. S., Yeo, H. L., Sosa, J. A., & Rosenthal, M. Z. (2018). The Surgical Personality: Does Surgery Resident Motivation Predict Attrition? J Am Coll Surg, 226(5), 777–783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.02.007
Symer, Matthew M., Jonathan S. Abelson, Heather L. Yeo, Julie A. Sosa, and M Zachary Rosenthal. “The Surgical Personality: Does Surgery Resident Motivation Predict Attrition?J Am Coll Surg 226, no. 5 (May 2018): 777–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.02.007.
Symer MM, Abelson JS, Yeo HL, Sosa JA, Rosenthal MZ. The Surgical Personality: Does Surgery Resident Motivation Predict Attrition? J Am Coll Surg. 2018 May;226(5):777–83.
Symer, Matthew M., et al. “The Surgical Personality: Does Surgery Resident Motivation Predict Attrition?J Am Coll Surg, vol. 226, no. 5, May 2018, pp. 777–83. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.02.007.
Symer MM, Abelson JS, Yeo HL, Sosa JA, Rosenthal MZ. The Surgical Personality: Does Surgery Resident Motivation Predict Attrition? J Am Coll Surg. 2018 May;226(5):777–783.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Coll Surg

DOI

EISSN

1879-1190

Publication Date

May 2018

Volume

226

Issue

5

Start / End Page

777 / 783

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Surgery
  • Surgeons
  • Personnel Turnover
  • Motivation
  • Male
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • General Surgery