Profile of women family practice residents.

A questionnaire was designed to provide a profile of women who comprise an increasing percentage of family medicine residents. In addition to seeking basic demographic information, the questionnaire queried the women on their obstetrical and gynecological histories and their perceptions of life stresses. An indirect mailing resulted in a 56% (785/1,409) response rate. Results revealed that 56% of respondents are married and that 20% have at least one preschool child. Nine percent had delivered during their training and another 8% were pregnant at the time of the survey. Eighty percent felt the initial year of residency was a time of "high stress." Menstrual dysfunction and other gynecologic problems were not a cause of absenteeism, but during menses, 30% of the respondents felt "less compassionate," 42% "less efficient," and 16% "less accurate." Family medicine educators must understand women residents and their unique problems, stresses, and needs.