Table 8 Categories and issues for the theme, “Differential factors that may affect quality of life during medical residency for men versus women”
Category | Issues | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Demands | External Institutional Societal Internal Personal life planning | “For a woman, it’s like constant, more is demanded of her than men, because, er, she has to be pretty, she has to smell good, she has to be well-dressed, she has to be nice. So, I think this exists and for a man, I think it’s more flexible.” “I feel that the residency itself doesn’t create a difference, it doesn’t distinguish between men and women, I think it's something that comes more from us.” “I think women care more, so they’re more concerned about the relationship in the sense of building a family. The guys only focus on their career, but women have their careers, their family “Oh, tidying up the house... I doubt if a man would waste time cleaning the floor and cleaning the bathroom.” |
Biological factors | Menstrual period | “Oh, I also think the hormones are terrible!" “I think that, with PMS, quality of life gets worse ...” |
Perception | Critical perception | “I think that women sometimes suffer more, are more into details, can perceive things better.” |
Feelings | Expression Scrutinize Attachment to patients | “Men are less complicated, for sure, they don’t think about numerous things, men externalize less.” “I think women are much, much more sensitive, I think they suffer more, I think they get more attached. The threshold is much lower, like, I don’t see men... few of the male residents in our group care, as I see it, so, they don’t care, er, don’t get shaken.” |
Relationships | Formation of groups | “They show greater facility at socializing, at dealing with differences, with everything. It’s something intrinsic to men, because with us, they really don’t even listen to what we say.” |