Residency Training Programme in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Gujarat

Abstract

The fact that is known to everyone but still least studied is that the junior doctors working in teaching hospitals are overworked, under stress, short of sleep and face a lot of problems. This study was designed to obtain information related to work schedules and environment, professional training, financial status, accommodation facilities and health of resident doctors working in a large teaching hospital in the state of Gujarat in India. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain necessary information. These questionnaires were used later on to derive data and were analysed. The study was done during a period of three months, from 1 October 2004 to 31 December 2004. Out of the 200 residents contacted, 160 responded and out of these only 154 qualified for the final analysis. It was observed that more than 50 per cent did not receive any stipend. Teaching, training and library facilities have not been considered satisfactory by majority of them. Their health status is not satisfactory and a sizable minority feels that they are overworked and tortured by the senior colleagues. More than 65 per cent get less than seven hours of sleep in a day. There is obvious need to remedy the situation at earliest possible.