Accepted Type
Facilitated and Dedicated Poster
Code
LP2 - 02
Was this work accepted for CCME 2020?
no
Category
General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)
Type
Oral
Sub Type
Education Research
Will the presenter be a:
Resident
Affiliation
Considered for Poster
yes
Title
Perceptions of Health and Wellness Impacts on Residents in their Certification Exam Year
Length of Presentation
Background/Purpose
Residency training in Canada includes a certification exam administered by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Residents work clinically while studying. Studying for this exam may impact residents' health and wellness. Our objectives were to explore (a) the residents' certification exam year experiences, (b) mitigating strategies used to enhance health and education, (c) retrospective perceptions of faculty on their certification exam year, and (d) faculty perceptions of certification exam year experiences of current residents.
Methods
Qualitative description methodology was used for this study. Participants were residents and supervisors from McMaster University and the University of Toronto. In depth, semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted by one of the investigators. Each was transcribed, reviewed and coded using content analysis by two members of the investigating team.
Results
Fear and stress were identified in residents' personal and professional lives including finances, career planning, and relationships. Health impacts were identified with heightened anxiety, loss of interest, weight gain, and poor eating habits. Negative impacts were exacerbated by observing predecessors' stress, high stakes nature of the examination, and expectation of peak clinical performance while studying. Mitigating factors included supportive personal and professional networks, norming of the examination as creating knowledge foundation for practice and shared community goal of resident success.
Conclusion
This study has identified unique challenges that residents face in their exam year. A focus on mitigating factors will be helpful to ensure physician wellness during transition to practice.
Keyword 1
Examinations
Keyword 2
Wellness
Level of Training
Post Graduate
Abstract Themes
Physician & Medical Student Health and Well-being
Additional Theme (First choice)
Postgraduate
Additional Theme (Second Choice)
Additional Theme (Third Choice)
Authors
Presenter
Laila Nasser
Term 1
Yes
Term 2
Yes
Term 3
Yes
Term 4
Yes
Term 5
Yes
