STRESS AND THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM DIRECTOR

A survey of pediatric program directors was performed to identify stressors on pediatric residents as perceived by the directors and to ascertain the relationship of stress experienced by house staff and faculty. Maj or stressors for pediatric residents were acuity/complexity of patient diseases and financial concerns. Major stressors for program directors were administrative duties. Although nearly three fourths of the program directors had completed a fellowship, only one half were on the tenured track. The majority of program directors believed that as resident working hours and stress decreased, faculty workload and stress increased. Stress experienced by faculty appears to require further investigation and remediation.