• Michael C Sullivan, Emily M Bucholz, Heather Yeo, Sanziana A Roman, Richard H Bell, and Julie Ann Sosa.
• Departments of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
• Arch Surg. 2012 May 1; 147 (5): 408-14.

ObjectivesTo investigate which residents develop successful collegial relationships with attending physicians and to determine how social interactions affect residency satisfaction.DesignCross-sectional National Study of Expectations and Attitudes of Residents in Surgery survey. Demographics and level of agreement regarding training experiences were collected from the survey responses and related to overall satisfaction with the residency program. We performed χ2 testing and hierarchical logistic regression modeling.SettingTwo hundred forty-eight residency programs.ParticipantsAll US categorical general surgery residents.Main Outcome MeasuresAnswers to "How often do you do things with your attendings socially?" and "I can turn to members of the faculty when I have difficulties."ResultsOf 4402 returned surveys (response rate, 82.4%), we included 4390. Residents who were older (P = .01), in a higher postgraduate year (PGY) (P < .001), men (P = .003), married (P = .02), and parents (P = .001) were most likely to socialize with attendings. In hierarchical logistic regression modeling, PGY-5 status was independently associated with socializing; PGY-1 and PGY-2 status and female sex were negatively associated. Residents who were men (P < .001), married (P < .001), and parents (P = .001) were most likely to feel they could turn to attendings with problems. In hierarchical logistic regression modeling, PGY-1, PGY-4, and PGY-5 status and being married were positively associated with this statement; female sex was negatively correlated. Residents not socializing with attendings expressed 3 times more program dissatisfaction (18.9% vs 6.2% [P < .001]); those unable to turn to attendings expressed 5 times more dissatisfaction (34.7% vs 7.0% [P < .001]).ConclusionsCollegial interactions between residents and attendings are important because they are associated with residency satisfaction. Efforts should be made to expand such interactions to junior and female residents.

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