A survey comparing the mental health of residents before and after compulsory postgraduate clinical training / 医学教育

ABSTRACT

The new postgraduate clinical training system that started in 2004 is expected to have positive effects on the health of residents and the quality of treatment they provide.We performed a survey to examine the effects of this training system on the mental health of residents.<BR>1) The subjects were first-year residents (458 in 2003 and 549 in 2004) who had started postgraduate clinical training at 38 hospitals in Japan.Self-administered questionnaires, which included items about working conditions and mental health, were mailed to each subject.<BR>2) The mean score on the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire was 4.8 both before and after the new training system was introduced.The mean Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score was 15.3 before and 14.4 after the system's introduction.The results showed no significant difference in mental health of residents before and after the system was changed.<BR>3) The results suggest that the new training system has a positive effect on residents' mental health by increasing sleep time and decreasing occupational stress; however, the new system has also decreased job satisfaction and negatively affected their mental health.<BR>4) Job satisfaction may significantly affect the mental health of residents.