OBJECTIVE
Delivery of reproductive services to adolescents varies by specialty and has been linked to differences in clinical training. Few studies have explored how different specialties’ graduate medical education (GME) programs prepare providers to deliver adolescent reproductive services. We explored the perceptions of resident physicians regarding their training in delivering adolescent reproductive health services.
DESIGN
Between November 2008 and February 2009, nine focus groups were conducted with graduate medical trainees in three specialties that routinely care for adolescents. The semi-structured discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using an inductive approach to content analysis.
SETTING
Large, urban academic medical center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
PARTICIPANTS
54 resident trainees in pediatrics, family medicine and obstetrics/gynecology
INTERVENTIONS
None
MAIN OUTCOMES
Trainees’ perspectives regarding the didactic teaching and clinical training in providing adolescent reproductive services
RESULTS
Five themes emerged reflecting trainees’ beliefs regarding the best practices GME programs can engage in to ensure that trainees graduate feeling competent and comfortable delivering adolescent reproductive services. Trainees believed programs need to: 1) Provide both didactic lectures as well as diverse inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences; 2) Have faculty preceptors skilled in providing and supervising adolescent reproductive services; 3) Teach skills for engaging adolescents in clinical assessments and decision-making; 4) Train providers to navigate confidentiality issues with adolescents and caregivers; and 5) Provide infrastructure and resources for delivering adolescent reproductive services.
CONCLUSIONS
The three specialties differed in how well each of the five best practices were reportedly addressed during GME training. Policy recommendations are provided.
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