Meeting the needs of the resident trainee during an elective subspecialty rotation

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine and compare perceptions between resident-trainees and faculty-educators on goals and reasons why resident trainees choose certain subspecialty elective rotations.Methods In June 2013 residents and faculty-educators at a large tertiary care academic medical center were surveyed regarding perceived resident goals for subspecialty electives. Each group was sent a different electronic survey of parallel questions assessing agreement on an ordered scale with statements about which factors impacted resident choice.ResultsThe survey was sent to 154 residents and had 75 (49%) respondents, as well as 20 faculty-educators with 12 (60%) respondents. Residents and faculty did not differ in their responses that electives were chosen to fill perceived knowledge gaps (exact Cochran-Armitage p = .51). However, educators and residents significantly varied in the degree to which they thought resident choice was based on networking within the field (exact Cochran-Armitage p = .01), auditioning for fellowship (exact Cochran-Armitage p < .01), or exploring career options (exact Cochran-Armitage p = .01), with educators overestimating the degree to which these impacted resident choice. ConclusionsResident trainees and faculty educators agree that subspecialty electives are most frequently chosen in order to meet resident educational goals, highlighting the importance of developing and delivering high quality subspecialty curricular content for the internal medicine resident learner during electives. Many residents choose electives for career development reasons, but faculty educators overestimate this motivation.

Incorporating interactive workshops into bedside teaching: completion of a multi-modal rheumatology rotation significantly increases internal medicine residents’ competency and comfort with comprehensive knee examinations

“…When comparing PGY 3 residents who did or did not take a rheumatology elective, the confidence was higher for exam skills and shoulder injection in residents who completed the elective. Among the 57 internal medicine residents who participated in our study, we were able to show that rheumatology elective completion alone significantly enhanced competency and comfort with musculoskeletal examination skills, aligning with this and with previously published literature on elective experiences [ 23 , 24 ].…”

“…Traditional teaching (i.e., at the bedside) has been the mainstay of both undergraduate and graduate medical education. Subspecialty elective rotations have been shown to increase specific skills and knowledge [ 23 ]. In a study by Goldenberg et al [ 24 ], 24 internal medicine residents participated in a rheumatology elective (12 ambulatory and 12 inpatient).…”

Incorporating Interactive Workshops into Bedside Teaching: Completion of a Multi- Modal Rheumatology Rotation Significantly Increases Internal Medicine Residents’ Competency and Comfort with Comprehensive Knee Examinations

“…When comparing PGY 3 residents who did or did not take a rheumatology elective, the confidence was higher for exam skills and shoulder injection in residents who completed the elective. Among the 57 internal medicine residents who participated in our study, we were able to show that rheumatology elective completion alone significantly enhanced competency and comfort with musculoskeletal examination skills, aligning with this and with previously published literature on elective experiences 19,20 .…”

“…Traditional teaching (i.e., at the bedside) has been the mainstay of both undergraduate and graduate medical education. Subspecialty elective rotations have been shown to increase specific skills and knowledge 19 . In a study by Goldenberg et al 20 , 24 internal medicine residents participated in a rheumatology elective (12 ambulatory and 12 inpatient).…”