A Qualitative Study of Factors Affecting Morale in Psychiatry Residency Training

• Published in: Academic psychiatry Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 776 - 782
• Main Authors: Caravella, Rachel A., Robinson, Lee A., Wilets, Ilene, Weinberg, Michael, Cabaniss, Deborah L., Cutler, Janis L., Kymissis, Carisa, Arbuckle, Melissa R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.10.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Coding; Community Relations; Confidentiality; Data analysis; Education, Medical, Graduate; Empirical Report; Female; Focus Groups; Grounded theory; Group Dynamics; Humans; Internal Medicine; Internship and Residency; Interpersonal Relations; Interviews; Job satisfaction; Male; Medical Education; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental health; Mentors; Morale; Motivation; National Surveys; Participation; Psychiatry; Psychiatry - education; Qualitative Research; Recognition (Achievement); Sense of Community; Social Distance; Social Support; State Surveys; Trust; Workload; Resident wellness; Morale; Groups; Internship and residency; Resident’s professional development; Residents
• ISSN: 1042-9670; 1545-7230
• DOI: 10.1007/s40596-016-0567-2

Objective Resident morale is an important yet poorly understood aspect of the residency training experience. Despite implications for program quality, resident satisfaction, patient care, and recruitment, little is known about the variables influencing this complex phenomenon. This study sought to identify important factors affecting morale in psychiatry residency training. Methods The authors conducted four semi-structured focus groups at a moderately sized, urban, psychiatry residency program during the 2013–2014 academic year. They used qualitative data analysis techniques, including grounded theory and content analysis, to identify key themes affecting resident morale across training levels. Results Twenty-seven residents participated in the focus groups with equal distribution across post-graduate years (PGY) 1–4. Five major conceptual categories affecting resident morale emerged: Sense of Community, Individual Motivators, Clinical Work, Feeling Cared For, and Trust in the Administration. Conclusions Morale is an important topic in residency education. The qualitative results suggest that factors related to a Sense of Community and Individual Motivators generally enhanced resident morale whereas factors related to a lack of Feeling Cared For and Trust in the Administration tended to contribute to lower morale. The authors describe the possible interventions to promote stronger program morale suggested by these findings.