Structural Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Internal Medicine Residents: An Ethnographic Study
Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez,1 Jaiberth Antonio Cardona-Arias2 1Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia; 2Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, ColombiaCorrespondence: Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez, Email Luis.higuita@campusucc.edu.coInt...
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Dove Medical Press
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Advances in Medical Education and Practice |
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| author | Higuita-Gutiérrez LF Cardona-Arias JA |
| author_facet | Higuita-Gutiérrez LF Cardona-Arias JA |
| author_sort | Higuita-Gutiérrez LF |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez,1 Jaiberth Antonio Cardona-Arias2 1Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia; 2Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, ColombiaCorrespondence: Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez, Email Luis.higuita@campusucc.edu.coIntroduction: There is limited qualitative evidence in the global medical literature regarding the quality of life of medical residents.Objective: To understand the meanings of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among internal medicine residents in Medellín, Colombia, in 2024.Methods: An ethnographic study was conducted with 12 internal medicine residents selected through theoretical sampling. In-depth interviews, participant observation, and field diaries were employed. The hermeneutic analysis was based on coding, categorization, conceptual sorting, and semantic relationships. Methodological rigor was ensured through reflexivity, triangulation, credibility, and auditability.Results: The concept of HRQoL encompasses both physical and mental health aspects, as well as the structural elements of the training process that emerged as determinants of HRQoL. These factors were grouped into three categories: meanings of HRQoL among residents which includes subcategories such as family life, leisure, income, and recognition; individual, institutional, and healthcare system determinants affecting HRQoL, and the impacts of residency associated with lifestyle changes, including poor sleep quality, high consumption of energy drinks, smoking, poor nutrition, sedentary behavior, and worsened physical and mental health.Conclusion: The HRQoL of medical residents is negatively affected by healthcare system structures, such as limited residency positions, faculty profiles, high tuition, and low compensation. These stressors lead to unhealthy coping strategies, including poor sleep, diet, and limitation of social interactions, risking residents’ health and compromising patient care quality. It is recommended that regulatory and institutional changes be made to improve the HRQoL for this population.Keywords: health-related quality of life, medical residents, internal medicine, qualitative studies, lifestyles, meanings |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d2ff76fe9e9b43b1bbf0c84514f6f426 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1179-7258 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
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| series | Advances in Medical Education and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-d2ff76fe9e9b43b1bbf0c84514f6f4262025-08-20T03:32:35ZengDove Medical PressAdvances in Medical Education and Practice1179-72582025-06-01Volume 16Issue 110071018103684Structural Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Internal Medicine Residents: An Ethnographic StudyHiguita-Gutiérrez LF0Cardona-Arias JA1Facultad de medicinaMicrobiologyLuis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez,1 Jaiberth Antonio Cardona-Arias2 1Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia; 2Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, ColombiaCorrespondence: Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez, Email Luis.higuita@campusucc.edu.coIntroduction: There is limited qualitative evidence in the global medical literature regarding the quality of life of medical residents.Objective: To understand the meanings of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among internal medicine residents in Medellín, Colombia, in 2024.Methods: An ethnographic study was conducted with 12 internal medicine residents selected through theoretical sampling. In-depth interviews, participant observation, and field diaries were employed. The hermeneutic analysis was based on coding, categorization, conceptual sorting, and semantic relationships. Methodological rigor was ensured through reflexivity, triangulation, credibility, and auditability.Results: The concept of HRQoL encompasses both physical and mental health aspects, as well as the structural elements of the training process that emerged as determinants of HRQoL. These factors were grouped into three categories: meanings of HRQoL among residents which includes subcategories such as family life, leisure, income, and recognition; individual, institutional, and healthcare system determinants affecting HRQoL, and the impacts of residency associated with lifestyle changes, including poor sleep quality, high consumption of energy drinks, smoking, poor nutrition, sedentary behavior, and worsened physical and mental health.Conclusion: The HRQoL of medical residents is negatively affected by healthcare system structures, such as limited residency positions, faculty profiles, high tuition, and low compensation. These stressors lead to unhealthy coping strategies, including poor sleep, diet, and limitation of social interactions, risking residents’ health and compromising patient care quality. It is recommended that regulatory and institutional changes be made to improve the HRQoL for this population.Keywords: health-related quality of life, medical residents, internal medicine, qualitative studies, lifestyles, meaningshttps://www.dovepress.com/structural-determinants-of-health-related-quality-of-life-in-internal--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-AMEPhealth-related quality of lifemedical residentsinternal medicinequalitative studieslifestylesmeanings. |
| spellingShingle | Higuita-Gutiérrez LF Cardona-Arias JA Structural Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Internal Medicine Residents: An Ethnographic Study Advances in Medical Education and Practice health-related quality of life medical residents internal medicine qualitative studies lifestyles meanings. |
| title | Structural Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Internal Medicine Residents: An Ethnographic Study |
| title_full | Structural Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Internal Medicine Residents: An Ethnographic Study |
| title_fullStr | Structural Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Internal Medicine Residents: An Ethnographic Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Structural Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Internal Medicine Residents: An Ethnographic Study |
| title_short | Structural Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Internal Medicine Residents: An Ethnographic Study |
| title_sort | structural determinants of health related quality of life in internal medicine residents an ethnographic study |
| topic | health-related quality of life medical residents internal medicine qualitative studies lifestyles meanings. |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/structural-determinants-of-health-related-quality-of-life-in-internal--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-AMEP |
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