Incorporation of Personality Typing into a Neurologic Surgery Residency Program: Utility in Systems Based Practice, Professionalism, and Self-Reflection.

Abstract

In the neurosurgery residency, inherent personality traits can play a significant role in the adaptability and success of the resident physician. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator has been used extensively in the business and administrative world. As a quality improvement effort to promote self-reflection, personal and professional improvement among both faculty and resident members of a department of neurosurgery at a tertiary care academic medical center, a group learning exercise was implemented using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. All residents (11/11) and 85% of faculty (11/13) participated in the exercise. INTJ ("Mastermind," "Scientist") was the most commonly represented (36.4% compared with 2.1% in the general population; P < 0.001). ENTJ ("Field Marshall," "Executive") was present in 18% compared with 1.8% of the general population (P < 0.001). Thus, the 2 most common types (_NTJ) were present in 54.4% of our department compared with 3.9% of the general population (P < 0.001). Personality typing can be used to gain valuable insight into the composition of neurosurgery residency cohorts and resolve conflicts arising from personality differences within these groups as well as within the larger hospital setting.