Health Risk Appraisal Status: Are Family Medicine Residents or Faculty Serving as Role Models?

Mark Little, MD.

Background: A vital role of a physician is that of advocate as well as role model encouraging patients to adopt behaviors that prevent disease and improve health, and to forgo habits that are detrimental to wellbeing. The stresses and demands of resident training programs may cause physicians to adopt unhealthy lifestyles or to develop risk-taking behaviors.

Objective: To compare and contrast health risk appraisal status as reported by Faculty and Residents of Family Medicine programs within South Carolina.

Design: Survey.

Participants: Current residents and Faculty, both male and female, of Family Medicine residency programs located in South Carolina.

Outcome measures: Indicators of disease, disease prevention, high-risk behaviors, and subjective assessments of general health and satisfaction.

Results: A total of 301 (52.8% returned). Completion rates were 60.2% for faculty and 53.6% for residents; this was significant (p<0.05). Significant differences were observed in exercise rates, rectal examinations, driving intoxicated, speeding, and exposure to violence.

Conclusions: Residents were significantly more inclined to engage in risk taking behavior; less inclined to participate in disease prevention, and had a more negative assessment of their overall health than faculty members.