Project description:BackgroundSufficient exposure to rarer medical problems around pregnancy is a challenge during short rotations in obstetric medicine (OM). A Canadian research group created online clinical cases, the CanCOM cases, to overcome this.MethodsWe conducted an exploratory study to document the use and perceived utility of the CanCOM cases. 77 residents doing an OM rotation participated in our study. We used a survey to document their perception of CanCOM cases (12 items, 7-point scale), clinical exposure to several conditions (pre and post rotation; 41 items, 7-point scale) and use of the educational tool (1 item, 4-option scale).ResultsCanCOM cases was perceived as an accessible and useful tool. Participants completed a median of 6/20 cases (range 1-20), and highly recommended the cases (6.48 ± 0.73 SD on a 7-point Likert scale).ConclusionDespite some technical limitations, CanCOM cases was shown to contribute to clinical exposure to rare but essential medical conditions.
Project description:BackgroundResidents graduate from medical school with increasing levels of debt and also may possess poor financial knowledge and practices. Prior studies have assessed resident financial knowledge and interest in financial education, yet additional information regarding their attitudes about personal finance and financial planning could be essential for the development of relevant curricula.ObjectiveWe assessed baseline financial attitudes and planning behaviors of internal medicine and internal medicine-pediatrics residents in 3 geographically diverse academic programs.MethodsA modified version of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority National Financial Capability survey was administered anonymously to residents in 3 programs in spring 2017. Outcomes included levels of educational debt, positive financial planning behaviors, perception of finances and debt, and education about personal finance.ResultsResponse rate was 62% (184 of 298). Rates of educational debt were high, with 81% (149 of 184) of respondents reporting educational debt, and the majority owing more than $100,000. Residents' financial practices were variable, and residents could be grouped into 1 of 3 categories-concerned-engaged, concerned-unengaged, and unconcerned-unengaged-based on their engagement with debt and financial management. Residents with high debt (> $250,000) had a bimodal distribution of respondents who strongly agreed and those who strongly disagreed they were concerned about debt.ConclusionsResident financial attitudes and practices are variable, ranging from highly engaged residents actively managing their financial wellness to unengaged residents who have low concern, despite high educational debt.
Project description:Aims of the studyResidents in difficulty are a major cause for concern in medical education, with a prevalence of 7-15%. They are often detected late in their training and cannot make use of remediation plans. Nowadays, most training hospitals in Switzerland do not have a specific program to identify and manage residents in difficulty. The aim of the study was to explore the challenges perceived by physicians regarding the process of identifying, diagnosing, and supporting residents in difficulty in a structured and programmatic way. We explored perceptions of physicians at different hierarchical levels (residents (R), Chief residents (CR), attending physicians (A), Chief Physician (CP)) in order to better understand these challenges.MethodsWe conducted an exploratory qualitative study between December 2015 and July 2016. We asked volunteers from the Primary Care Division of the Geneva University Hospitals to partake to three focus groups (with CR, A, R) and one interview with the division's CP. We transcribed, coded, and qualitatively analyzed the three focus groups and the interview, using a content thematic approach and Fishbein's conceptual framework.ResultsWe identified similarities and differences in the challenges of the management of residents in difficulty on a programmatic way amongst physicians of different hierarchical levels. Our main findings: Supervisors (CR, A, CP) have good identification skills of residents in difficulty, but they did not put in place systematic remediation strategies.Supervisors (CR, A) were concerned about managing residents in difficulty. They were aware of the possible adverse effects on patient care, but "feared to harm" resident's career by documenting a poor institutional assessment.Residents "feared to share" their own difficulties with their supervisors. They thought that it would impact their career negatively.The four physician's hierarchical level reported environmental constraints (lack of funding, time constraint, lack of time and resources…).ConclusionOur results add two perspectives to specialized recommendations regarding the implementation of remediation programs for residents in difficulty. The first revolves around the need to identify and fully understand not only the beliefs but also the implicit norms and the feeling of self-efficacy that are shared by teachers and that are likely to motivate them to engage in the management of residents in difficulty. The second emphasizes the importance of analyzing these elements that constitute the context for a change and of identifying, in close contact with the heads of the institutions, which factors may favor or hinder it. This research action process has fostered awareness and discussions at different levels. Since then, various actions and processes have been put in place at the Faculty of Medicine in Geneva.
Project description:ImportancePrevious studies have demonstrated racial and ethnic inequities in medical student assessments, awards, and faculty promotions at academic medical centers. Few data exist about similar racial and ethnic disparities at the level of graduate medical education.ObjectiveTo examine the association between race and ethnicity and performance assessments among a national cohort of internal medicine residents.Design, setting, and participantsThis retrospective cohort study evaluated assessments of performance for 9026 internal medicine residents from the graduating classes of 2016 and 2017 at Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited internal medicine residency programs in the US. Analyses were conducted between July 1, 2020, and June 31, 2022.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome was midyear and year-end total ACGME Milestone scores for underrepresented in medicine (URiM [Hispanic only; non-Hispanic American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander only; or non-Hispanic Black/African American]) and Asian residents compared with White residents as determined by their Clinical Competency Committees and residency program directors. Differences in scores between Asian and URiM residents compared with White residents were also compared for each of the 6 competency domains as supportive outcomes.ResultsThe study cohort included 9026 residents from 305 internal medicine residency programs. Of these residents, 3994 (44.2%) were female, 3258 (36.1%) were Asian, 1216 (13.5%) were URiM, and 4552 (50.4%) were White. In the fully adjusted model, no difference was found in the initial midyear total Milestone scores between URiM and White residents, but there was a difference between Asian and White residents, which favored White residents (mean [SD] difference in scores for Asian residents: -1.27 [0.38]; P < .001). In the second year of training, White residents received increasingly higher scores relative to URiM and Asian residents. These racial disparities peaked in postgraduate year (PGY) 2 (mean [SD] difference in scores for URiM residents, -2.54 [0.38]; P < .001; mean [SD] difference in scores for Asian residents, -1.9 [0.27]; P < .001). By the final year 3 assessment, the gap between White and Asian and URiM residents' scores narrowed, and no racial or ethnic differences were found. Trends in racial and ethnic differences among the 6 competency domains mirrored total Milestone scores, with differences peaking in PGY2 and then decreasing in PGY3 such that parity in assessment was reached in all competency domains by the end of training.Conclusions and relevanceIn this cohort study, URiM and Asian internal medicine residents received lower ratings on performance assessments than their White peers during the first and second years of training, which may reflect racial bias in assessment. This disparity in assessment may limit opportunities for physicians from minoritized racial and ethnic groups and hinder physician workforce diversity.
Project description:BackgroundMany residents experience burnout, prompting national attention to well-being; however, well-being is not merely the absence of burnout. A recently developed measure of flourishing may provide insight on this important topic.ObjectiveWe investigated flourishing in a sample of medical residents.MethodsInternal medicine residents and psychiatry residents at 2 residency programs responded to a cross-sectional online survey (December 2017-February 2018), which focused on the Flourish Index (FI) and Secure Flourish Index (SFI). Both measures generate scores ranging from a low of 0 to a high of 10. Participants were queried about quality of life, burnout, work-life balance, empathic concern, and sociodemographic characteristics. Simple and multiple linear regressions were performed to examine the relationship between FI/SFI and other variables.ResultsThe response rate was 92% (92 of 101). Participants were found to have a mean FI score of 6.8 (SD = 1.6) and mean SFI score of 6.9 (SD = 1.6). Low quality of life, low work-life balance satisfaction, high emotional exhaustion, lower empathic concern, and having a pet were all significantly associated with lower FI scores (R2 = 0.59; F[14, 69] = 7.10; P < .0001), indicating lesser flourishing, controlling for other variables. Similarly, low quality of life, high emotional exhaustion, lower empathic concern, and having a pet were all significantly associated with lower SFI scores (R2 = 0.55; F[14, 69] = 6.06; P < .0001), controlling for other variables.ConclusionsIn this sample, the flourishing indices were associated with well-being and burnout metrics.
Project description:Background: Focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU) is a safe and efficient diagnostic intervention for internal medicine physicians. FCU is a highly teachable skill, but is used in routine cardiac assessment in only 20% of surveyed training programs.We developed an FCU curriculum for internal medicine residents and an assessment tool to evaluate the impact of the curriculum on trainee knowledge and confidence. Methods: Internal medicine residents rotating through clinical cardiology services underwent 30 minutes of didactic and 60 minutes of hands-on teaching on acquisition and interpretation of FCU. A 20 item pre and post-curriculum online survey was administered (November 2018-December 2019) to assess confidence and knowledge in FCU. Results: 79 of 116 (68%) residents completed the pre-survey and 50 completed the post-survey, of whom 34 received the curriculum. The mean change in confidence score in those who received versus did not receive the curriculum was 0.99 versus 0.39 (p=0.046) on a 5-point Likert scale. Among 33 residents who had paired pre- and post-surveys the mean change in confidence score was 1.2 versus 0.85 (p<0.001) in those who received versus did not receive the curriculum. The mean increase in knowledge score was 13% versus 7% respectively (p<0.0001). Conclusions: We instituted a novel curriculum for internal medicine residents to gain experience in image acquisition and interpretation. Both confidence and knowledge in FCU improved following the curriculum, indicating that this is a highly teachable skill. Additional analysis of the of the FCU study images will be useful for informing future interventions.
Project description:BackgroundGender-related disparities persist in medicine and medical education. Prior work has found differences in medical education assessments based on gender.ObjectiveWe hypothesized that gender bias would be mitigated in a simulation-based assessment.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of emergency medicine residents at a single, urban residency program. Beginning in spring 2013, residents participated in mandatory individual simulation assessments. Twelve simulated cases were included in this study. Rating forms mapped milestone language to specific observable behaviors. A Bayesian regression was used to evaluate the effect of resident and rater gender on assessment scores. Both 95% credible intervals (CrIs) and a Region of Practical Equivalence approach were used to evaluate the results.ResultsParticipants included 48 faculty raters (25 men [52%]) and 102 residents (47 men [46%]). The difference in scores between male and female residents (M = -0.58, 95% CrI -3.31-2.11), and male and female raters (M = 2.87, 95% CrI -0.43-6.30) was small and 95% CrIs overlapped with 0. The 95% CrI for the interaction between resident and rater gender also overlapped with 0 (M = 0.41, 95% CrI -3.71-4.23).ConclusionsIn a scripted and controlled system of assessments, there were no differences in scores due to resident or rater gender.
Project description:BackgroundEffective teamwork is necessary for optimal patient care. There is insufficient understanding of interactions between physicians and nurses on internal medicine wards.ObjectiveTo describe resident physicians' and nurses' actual behaviours contributing to teamwork quality in the setting of a simulated internal medicine ward.MethodsA volunteer sample of 14 pairs of residents and nurses in internal medicine was asked to manage one non-urgent and one urgent clinical case in a simulated ward, using a high-fidelity manikin. After the simulation, participants attended a stimulated-recall session during which they viewed the videotape of the simulation and explained their actions and perceptions. All simulations were transcribed, coded, and analyzed, using a qualitative method (template analysis). Quality of teamwork was assessed, based on patient management efficiency and presence of shared management goals and of team spirit.ResultsMost resident-nurse pairs tended to interact in a traditional way, with residents taking the leadership and nurses executing medical prescriptions and assuming their own specific role. They also demonstrated different types of interactions involving shared responsibilities and decision making, constructive suggestions, active communication and listening, and manifestations of positive team building. The presence of a leader in the pair or a truly shared leadership between resident and nurse contributed to teamwork quality only if both members of the pair demonstrated sufficient autonomy. In case of a lack of autonomy of one member, the other member could compensate for it, if his/her own autonomy was sufficiently strong and if there were demonstrations of mutual listening, information sharing, and positive team building.ConclusionsAlthough they often relied on traditional types of interaction, residents and nurses also demonstrated readiness for increased sharing of responsibilities. Interprofessional education should insist on better redefinition of respective roles and reinforce behaviours shown to enhance teamwork quality.
Project description:BACKGROUND: Increasing complexity of medical care, coupled with limits on resident work hours, has prompted consideration of extending Internal Medicine training. It is unclear whether further hour reductions and extension of training beyond the current duration of 3 years would be accepted by trainees. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine if further work-hour reductions and extension of training would be accepted by trainees and whether resident burnout affects their opinions. DESIGN: A postal survey was sent to all 143 Internal Medicine residents at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in May 2004. MEASUREMENTS: The survey contained questions related to opinions on work-hour limits using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, organized into three subscales: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment, with burnout defined as high EE or DP. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent (106/143) of residents returned the survey. The vast majority (84%) of residents disagreed or strongly disagreed with extending training to 4 or 5 years. Burnout residents were less averse to extending training (strongly agree or agree, 18.9% vs 4.3%, P = .04). The majority of residents (68.9%) disagreed or strongly disagreed with establishing a 60-hour/week limit. Residents who met the criteria for burnout were more likely to agree that a 60-hour limit would be better than an 80-hour limit (strongly agree or agree, 22% vs 8%, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: In this program, most Internal Medicine residents are strongly opposed to extending their training to 4 or 5 years and would prefer the current 80 hours/week cap. A longer, less intense pace of Internal Medicine training seems to be less attractive in the eyes of current trainees.