Personality Profiling of the Modern Surgical Trainee: Insights into Generation X Jennifer A Swanson MD MPH Mara B Antonoff MD, Jonathan D’Cunha MD PhD, Michael A Maddaus MD
Apprenticeship Model Large care teams Learn by osmosis One service at a time No duty hour restrictions
Changing Surgical Education ACGME Core Competencies Resident education and evaluation Duty hour restrictions Smaller care teams Increased cross coverage
Generation Defined by historical time Similar events, icons, experiences Generation X Modern surgical trainee
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Determines personality type Preferences for behaviors, reactions, perceptions, judgment Based on pairs of opposite preferences
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Extraversion/Introversion (E/I) Inward vs outward personal orientation Sensing/iNtuition (S/N) Perceived facts vs insight Thinking/Feeling (T/F) Logical vs subjective approach to reasoning Judgment/Perception (J/P) Planning / organization vs spontaneity
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Historically, surgeons have favored the ESTJ personality type: Extroversion Sensing Thinking Judging
Hypothesis Resident personality has changed
Methods IRB approval MBTI step I form M 41 categorical surgical residents Single institution
Methods Data published by the Center for Applications of Psychological Type Chi-square analysis used to determine difference between groups =0.05
Results 39 (95%) of residents completed the survey 22 men and 17 women PGY-5 (6) PGY-4 (6) PGY-3 (15) PGY-2 (6) PGY-1 (6)
Results Residents represented 14 of the 16 personality types Residents preferred ISTJ: Introversion Sensing Thinking Judging Remainder less frequent n 4
Results
Historically, surgeons have favored the ESTJ personality type: Extroversion Sensing Thinking Judging
Results
Conclusions Validation of common perception of a new surgical resident Evolution to different personality Suggests attraction of new trainee
Future Implications Important implications for care team structuring Anticipate program expansion Potential applications Educational objectives Curricular development Relationship between trainees and staff