Psychometric comparisons of trainees and consultants in anaesthesia and psychiatry
Bruce, D.L.; Katz, S.E.; Turndorf, H.; Trounstine, P.; Hardesty, A.
British Journal of Anaesthesia 55(12): 1259-1264
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-0912 PMID: 6652015 Document Number: 211579
Two psychometric tests were taken by trainees in anesthesia and psychiatry and by consultant practitioners in these specialities. The Cattell 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire measured primary and seconary aspects of personality. The Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory assessed interests and compared the results with those of the test's control subjects who worked satisfactorily in one of 162 occupations. All clinician groups scored highly in intelligence, innovation, self-sufficiently as well as interests in the arts and medical science. Anesthetic trainees were very similar to psychiatric trainees except in the quality, tender-mindedness, in which the psychiatrists' mean score was much higher. Trainee anesthetics closely resembled consultants in that speciality, except that the younger group was more apprehensive and less conscientious. Consultant anesthetists were more conscientious, realistic, conventional and had more tough-poise than consultant psychiatrists, who were higher in social interests and tender-mindedness. These differences appear to be largely the result of the types of practice in these specialities rather than reasons people chose their fields. It is unlikely that these tests would be useful in the process of trainee selection, but the possiblity that psychometric tests could be devised for that purpose must be considered.