The clinical training of medical specialties in Mexico represents a fundamental stage of medical training. In addition to academic challenges, there are others of a labor nature and human training such as: patient care, work load and hours, administrative tasks, contact with suffering and hospital hierarchy.
Abuse of the resident in the medical specialties of Mexico
However, among the many challenges a resident faces are in-hospital relationships. In these relationships, mistreatment of the resident has been identified that interferes with his learning.
According to several studies, abuse occurs frequently among general surgery residents, especially women, and is associated with exhaustion and suicidal thoughts.
The last report of the UNAM shows that psychological and physical abuse were more frequent in surgical than medical specialties. As a consequence of the mistreatment, 89% of the residents reported burnout, 71% depression, 78% anxiety, and 58% poor patient care.
Despite the particular vulnerability of surgery residents, little is known about the extent of abuse, exhaustion, and suicidal thoughts in this group.
UNAM SURVEY ON ABUSE OF RESIDENTS IN MEDICAL SPECIALTIES
RESULTS:
143 responses were obtained (response rate: 8.2%), 84% of the residents reported having suffered abuse. The most frequent being psychological (humiliation in 78%), followed by academic (punishment guards in 50% and denial of teaching in 40%).
Followed by the physical (16% received blows, 35% were deprived of food and 21% of going to the bathroom during their shifts, as punishment). Furthermore, 21% were pressured to consume alcohol against their will.
Psychological and physical abuse were more frequent in surgical than medical specialties. As a consequence of the mistreatment, 89% of the residents reported burnout, 71% depression, 78% anxiety, and 58% poor patient care. The main perpetrators of the mistreatment were senior residents and base doctors.
Rates of all measures of abuse were higher among women; 65.1% of the women reported gender discrimination and 19.9% reported sexual harassment.
What the UNAM says
Abuse during residence is very frequent and affects the human rights and dignity of residents. They also reduce the learning capacity and the efficiency of specialty medical education, in a country with a high demand for health care that requires optimizing economic and human resources.
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