290 - Pediatricians’ Perceptions of Subspecialty Core Content in Pediatric Residency Training

Poster Number: 290
Publication Number: 290.421

Joni Hemond, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States; WADE HARRISON, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, DURHAM, NC, United States; Deirdre Caplin, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States

Background: Subspecialty exposure is an important component of training for categorical pediatric presidents. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires that all residents complete adolescent medicine, behavior and development, and at least four other subspecialties that come from a predetermined list of “key” subspecialties. Subspecialty content varies widely between U.S. pediatric residency programs, with some having set internal requirements and others giving residents the flexibility to structure their own experiences. When the University of Utah transitioned to a new scheduling system, an opportunity arose to gather information from our practicing graduates to determine how to best offer subspecialty content to our pediatric residents.

Objective: To conduct a descriptive analysis of practicing pediatricians’ perceptions on how best to offer and structure subspecialty experiences in pediatrics training.
 

Design/Methods: A survey was sent to all University of Utah categorical pediatrics alumni from 2006-2019. Reminder emails were sent out three times over a six-week period. Participants were asked which key subspecialties should be required by the program and how each of those subspecialties would best be structured (either longitudinally or as block rotations).

Results: Of the 207 surveys that were sent, we received 111 responses (54% response rate). Demographics: 62% general pediatricians, 20% subspecialists, 9% fellows, 6% hospitalists, 3% other. The majority of respondents felt that seven of the subspecialties should be required for all categorical pediatric residents: cardiology (89%), gastroenterology (86%), infectious diseases (84%), neurology (82%), psychiatry (72%), nephrology (67%) and hematology/oncology (65%). The top three subspecialties were consistent between those practicing within and outside our institution, and between practicing generalists and subspecialists. In terms of structure, those subspecialties seen as the best fit for a longitudinal rotation experience were behavior and development, adolescent medicine, and psychiatry.Conclusion(s): Based on information from recent University of Utah alumni, the subspecialties of cardiology, gastroenterology, and infectious diseases should be required rotations during residency, while behavioral and development, adolescent medicine, and psychiatry may best be structured longitudinally. Other residency programs should consider the perceptions of practicing pediatricians when structuring subspecialty experiences to best meet trainee educational needs.