Impact of partial participation in integrated family planning training on medical knowledge,patient communication and professionalism

Introduction

Obstetrics and gynecology residency programs are required to provide access to abortion training, but residents can opt out of participating for religious or moral reasons. Quantitative data suggest that most residents who opt out of doing abortions participate and gain skills in other aspects of the family planning training. However, little is known about their experience and perspective.

Methods

Between June 2010 and June 2011, we conducted semistructured interviews with current and former residents who opted out of some or all of the family planning training at ob-gyn residency programs affiliated with the Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program in Abortion and Family Planning. Residents were either self-identified or were identified by their Ryan Program directors as having opted out of some training. The interviews were transcribed and coded using modified grounded theory.

Results

Twenty-six physicians were interviewed by telephone. Interviewees were from geographically diverse programs (35% Midwest, 31% West, 19% South/Southeast and 15% North/Northeast). We identified four dominant themes about their experience: (a) skills valued in the family planning training, (b) improved patient-centered care, (c) changes in attitudes about abortion and (d) miscommunication as a source of negative feelings.

Discussion

Respondents valued the ability to partially participate in the family planning training and identified specific aspects of their training which will impact future patient care. Many of the effects described in the interviews address core competencies in medical knowledge, patient care, communication and professionalism. We recommend that programs offer a spectrum of partial participation in family planning training to all residents, including residents who choose to opt out of doing some or all abortions.

Implications

Learners who morally object to abortion but participate in training in family planning and abortion, up to their level of comfort, gain clinical and professional skills. We recommend that trainers should offer a range of participation levels to maximize the educational opportunities for these learners.     

Exploring How Residents Who Partially Participate in Family Planning Training Determine Their Level of Participation

ObjectivesThe Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires that obstetrics and gynecology residency programs provide access to abortion training, though residents may elect to opt out of participating due to religious or moral objections. While clinical benefits of partial participation have previously been explored, our study aimed to explore how residents navigate partial participation in abortion training and determine their limits.Study DesignThis study was qualitative in nature. Between June 2010 and June 2011, we conducted 26 semi-structured phone interviews with residents who opted out of some or all of the family planning rotation at 19 programs affiliated with The Ryan Residency Training Program. Faculty directors identified eligible residents, or residents self-reported in routine program evaluation. We analyzed data using the conventional content analysis method.ResultsWe interviewed all 26 (46%) of 56 eligible residents willing to be interviewed. Three main categories constituted the general concepts concerning resident decision-making in training participation: (1) variation in timing of when residents determined the extent of participation, (2) a diversity of influences on the residents’ level of participation, and (3) the perception of support or pressure related to their participation decision.ConclusionsThe findings indicated that residents who partially participate in abortion training at programs with specialized opt-out family planning training weigh many factors when deciding under what circumstances, if any, they will provide abortions and participate in training.     

Availability and characteristics of abortion training in US ob-gyn residency programs: a national survey

Objective

To assess the availability and characteristics of abortion training in US ob-gyn residency programs.

Methods

We surveyed fourth-year residents at US residency programs by email regarding availability and type of abortion training, procedural experience and self-assessed competence in abortion skills. We conducted multivariable, ordinal logistic regression with general estimating equations to determine individual-level and resident-reported, program-level correlates of quantity of uterine evacuation procedures done during residency.

Results

Three hundred sixty-two residents provided data, representing 161 of the 240 residency programs contacted. Access to training in elective abortion was available to most respondents: 54% reported routine training—where abortion training was routinely scheduled; 30% reported opt-in training—where training was available but not routinely integrated; and 16% reported that elective abortion training was not available. Residents in programs with routine elective abortion training and those who intended to do abortions before residency did a greater number of first-trimester manual uterine aspiration and second-trimester dilation and evacuation procedures than those without routine training. Similarly, routine, integrated training, even for indications other than elective abortion, correlated with more clinical experience (all p<.01, odds ratio and confidence interval shown below).

Conclusion

There is a strong independent relationship between routine training and greater clinical experience with uterine aspiration procedures.     

Routine training is not enough: structured training in family planning and abortion improves residents' competency scores and intentions to provide abortion after graduation more than ad hoc training

BackgroundAbortion provision remains threatened by the paucity of physicians trained to provide them. Lack of training during residency has been cited by obstetrician and gynecologist (ob-gyn) physicians as a reason for not including abortion in their practice.Study DesignWe administered surveys on interest, competency and intention to provide abortions to two groups of ob-gyn residents: one experiencing a new comprehensive and structured family planning rotation, and another group at our affiliate hospital's residency program receiving “ad hoc” training during their routine gynecology rotations. Surveys were anonymous and blinded to investigator.ResultsThe structured family planning rotation group compared to the ad hoc group reported significantly increased competency score using a Likert scale in manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) (4.5 vs. 1; p=.003) and had a higher proportion reporting intent to provide office MVA postresidency (100% vs. 39%; p=.01) and being trained to 22.5 weeks' vs. 12 weeks' gestation (p=.005). In bivariate analysis, competency in MVA was associated with higher intentions to provide MVA after residency (p=.007).ConclusionsA structured rotation in family planning and abortion for obstetrics/gynecology residents results in increases in competency and intentions to provide abortion, and an association between the two. In-hospital structured training proved to be superior to ad hoc training in our affiliate institution in improving competency and intention to provide abortion after residency.     

Geriatric medicine training for family practice residents in the 21st century: a report from the Residency Assistance Program/Harfford Geriatrics Initiative

Increasing the quality and quantity of geriatric medicine training for family practice residents is a particular challenge for community-based programs. With support from the John A. Hartford Foundation of New York City, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) implemented in 1995 a multi-part project to improve the amount and quality of geriatric medicine education received by family practice residents. This report summarizes the initial results of the regional geriatric medicine curriculum retreats for residency directors. The goals of the retreats were to build recognition among the residency directors of the skills that future family physicians will require to be successful providers of primary care to older adults and to allow the residency directors to identify and develop solutions to barriers to improving geriatric medicine training for residents. Forty-six program directors participated in the three retreats between February 2000 and February 2001. The participants represented 52 programs and rural tracks in all geographic regions, small and large programs, and urban and rural settings. The program directors developed a consensus on the geriatric medicine knowledge, skills, and attitudes that should be expected of all family practice residency graduates; developed a list of basic, required educational resources for each family practice residency program; and proposed solutions to common obstacles to successful curriculum development.     

Firearm Injury Prevention Training in Preventive Medicine Residency Programs

Preventive medicine plays a central role in the reducing the number of deaths due to preventable causes of premature deaths. General Preventive Medicine Residency programs have not been studied in relation to training in this area. A three-wave mail survey was conducted with email and telephone follow-ups. The outcome measures were the portion of program directors involved in training residents on firearm injury prevention issues and their perceived benefits and barriers of training residents on firearm injury prevention issues. Only 25% of the programs provided formal training on firearm injury prevention. Program directors who provided formal training perceived significantly higher number of benefits to offering such training than did directors who did not provide such training but no significant difference was found between the two for number of perceived barriers. If preventive medicine residency graduates are to play a role in reducing premature morbidity and mortality from firearms it will require more residencies to offer formal training in this area. The Association for Prevention Teaching and Research needs to develop guidelines on specific curriculum topics regarding firearm injury prevention.     

The National Institute for Program Director Development: a school for program directors

BACKGROUND: The role of residency program director is unique in medicine and medical education. Most program directors learn the job through trial and error, with a fortunate few benefiting from the wisdom and experience of their predecessors and mentors. In 1994, the Association of Family Practice Residency Directors (AFPRD) made the development of training and support resources for program directors a top priority. METHODS: With the support of the strategic plan of the AFPRD, the focus on excellence in residency education by the ABFP, and a survey documenting need, the National Institute for Program Director Development (NIPDD) was formed, with its sentinel product, a school for family practice residency directors. RESULTS: A fellowship-format 9-month training program was constructed using a multidimensional educational model. To date, there have been more than 300 participants. The curriculum emphasizes leadership development, resource allocation, a thorough familiarity with regulations and standards, educational options, and personnel management skills. A follow-up survey in 1999 documented an increase in program director tenure and an overall positive impact on family practice residency programs. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced preparation for the job of residency program director results in a positive impact on both the director and the program.     

The Pediatric Residency Training on Tobacco Project: baseline findings from the resident tobacco survey and observed structured clinical examinations

BACKGROUND: Residency training is an ideal time to prepare pediatricians to address tobacco, although few programs provide the necessary training. Barriers to training include competing priorities, lack of resources, and unavailability of expertise. Solutions for Smoking, a hybrid CD-ROM and web site training program for pediatric residents, may enable training directors to overcome these barriers and to include training on tobacco in their curriculum. The Pediatric Residency Training on Tobacco Project is a 4-year randomized prospective study that compares the effectiveness of a special training program, with Solutions for Smoking as the main teaching tool, to a standard training program in 15 pediatric residency-training programs. METHODS: Fifteen pediatric residency-training programs were assigned randomly to special and standard training conditions. Evaluation instruments include baseline and follow-up resident tobacco surveys and observed structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), patient tobacco surveys, and parent or guardian tobacco surveys. RESULTS: The present report describes the Pediatric Residency Training on Tobacco Project, the special and standard training conditions, and Solutions for Smoking, a hybrid CD-ROM and web site training program on tobacco for pediatric residents. Data from the baseline resident tobacco survey and OSCEs also are presented. While residents believed that pediatricians should play a leadership role in tobacco prevention and control, few had formal training in tobacco intervention, most were skeptical about the efficacy of intervention, and they were more likely to ask about tobacco and advise change than to help patients and parents to modify their behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The baseline findings underscore the importance of the proposed research, and the special training program may serve as a useful model for training pediatric residents to address tobacco in the future.     

Formal training in vaccine safety to address parental concerns not routinely conducted in U.S. pediatric residency programs

Objective

To determine if U.S. pediatric residency programs provide formal training in vaccine safety to address parental vaccine concerns.

Methods

An electronic survey was mailed to all members of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) to assess (1) if U.S. pediatric residency programs were providing formal vaccine safety training, (2) the content and format of the training if provided, and (3) interest in a training module for programs without training. Two follow-up surveys were mailed at 2 week intervals. Responses to the survey were collected at 4 weeks following the last mailing and analyzed. Logistic regression was used to assess the impact of program size on the likelihood of vaccine safety training. Pearson's chi square was used to compare programs with and without formal vaccine safety training in 5 U.S. regions.

Results

The survey was sent to 199 APPD members; 92 completed the survey (response rate 46.2%). Thirty-eight respondents (41%) had formal training in vaccine safety for pediatric residents at their programs; 54 (59%) did not. Of those that did not, the majority (81.5%) were interested in formal vaccine safety training for their residents. Of all respondents, 78% agreed that training in vaccine safety was a high priority for resident education. Thirty-five percent of all respondents agreed that local parental attitudes about vaccines influenced the likelihood of formal vaccine safety training.

Conclusion

Most pediatric residency programs surveyed do not include formal training on vaccine safety; yet, such training is supported by pediatric residency program directors as a priority for pediatric residents.     

Support services for family practice residents.

BACKGROUND. Internship and residency are stressful experiences for physicians in training. Residency programs vary in their provision of supportive services for residents. METHODS. A random sample of 50% of the nation's family practice residency programs was surveyed to determine the prevalence of 19 support services, 10 of which were assessed a decade previously. Programs were also asked about on-call frequency, vacation benefits, and program size. RESULTS. Approximately 91% of the programs responded. The surveys indicated that residents were on call an average of once every four nights, a 10% decrease from a decade ago. The prevalence of three support services had increased over the last decade: seminars and speakers on the stresses and conflicts of being a physician, support groups for residents, and child care services. "Night-float" rotations and part-time residencies are the least offered support services of those studied. CONCLUSIONS. Support for family practice residents is increasing, yet in many cases remains inadequate.     

Pediatric Residency Training on Tobacco: Training Director Tobacco Survey

BACKGROUND: Statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage pediatricians to address tobacco. However, most fail to do so and little is known about the preparation to intervene on tobacco they receive during residency training. METHODS: The Pediatric Residency Training Director Tobacco Survey was mailed to all pediatric residency training directors in the United States. The survey assessed the nature of training and supervision on tobacco, barriers to training, and factors that influence the inclusion of tobacco in the residency training curriculum. RESULTS: Seventy percent of the training directors returned the surveys. Relatively few offered training/supervision on tobacco on a formal basis. Training directors were reluctant to treat parents who smoke, were skeptical about third party payer reimbursement, and did not believe that office-based interventions for treating tobacco use among patients were effective. Key barriers to training were competing priorities, lack of training resources, and lack of faculty with expertise on tobacco. CONCLUSION: Residency training is an excellent time to train future pediatricians to intervene on tobacco, but too few pediatric training programs have taken up this charge. Much needs to be done to correct this situation and to prepare future pediatricians to meet the tobacco challenge.     

Training in Firearm Safety Counseling in Family Practice Residency Programs

The purpose of this study was to establish a national baseline regarding the prevalence of training of family practice residents regarding firearm safety counseling. A national survey of the residency directors at the 420 accredited family practice residency programs in the coterminous United States was used to assess the prevalance of training in firearm safety counseling, perceived effectiveness of such training, and perceived barriers to such counseling in residency programs. Program directors were sent a two-page questionnaire on firearm safety counseling activity in their programs and 71% responded. Few residencies (16%) had formal training in firearm safety counseling. The most common perceived barriers were no trained personnel (31%), too many other important issues (31%), not enough time (30%), and lack of educational resources (28%). Patient education materials (57%), video training programs (49%), and a curriculum guide (46%) were identified as resources, that would be most helpful in implementing a firearm safety counseling program. The results showed that formal training in firearm safety counseling is virtually absent from family practice residency training programs. This finding is not surprising given that less than 14% of the directors perceived firearm safety counseling would be effective in reducing firearm-related injuries or deaths and that research on effectiveness of such counseling is very limited.     

What to do when faced with the closure of a family practice residency

The turbulent health care environment, combined with recent reductions in federal support for graduate medical education, has threatened the viability of many residency programs. Several family practice programs are in the process of struggling for survival, while others have been forced to close. A new Residency Assistance Program (RAP) consultation has been developed to help programs "justify their existence " to sponsoring institutions. This paper discusses the signs that a program's viability may be in jeopardy and offers recommendations to reduce the risks of closure. For those residencies forced to cease operations, 11 recommendations are provided to minimize the negative impact of closure on the program's residents, faculty, and staff. Those include steps to assure that current residents receive full credit for the training time completed and the importance of notifications to the Residency Review Committee for Family Practice, the American Board of Family Practice, and the Association of Family Practice Residency Directors. Decisions must be made about whether the option exists to permit current residents to complete their training in the same facility or whether assistance is available to facilitate resident transfers to other programs. Open and honest communication among affected parties is emphasized to minimize the emotional consequences of such an important event.     

Experiences with a combined residency in internal and preventive medicine

BACKGROUND: The importance of integrating preventive medicine training into other residency programs was reinforced recently by the residency review committee for preventive medicine. Griffin Hospital in Derby CT has offered a 4-year integrated internal medicine and preventive medicine residency program since 1997. This article reports the outcomes of that program. METHODS: Data were collected from surveys of program graduates and the American Boards of Internal and Preventive Medicine in 2005-2007, and analyzed in 2007-2008. Graduates rated the program in regard to job preparation, the ease of transition to employment, the value of skills learned, the perceived quality of board preparation, and the quality of the program overall. Graduates rated themselves on core competencies set by the Accreditation Committee for Graduate Medical Education. RESULTS: Since 1997, the program has enrolled 22 residents. Residents and graduates contribute significantly toward quality of care at the hospital. Graduates take and pass at high rates the boards for both for internal and preventive medicine: 100% took internal medicine boards, 90% of them passed; 63% took preventive medicine boards, 100% of them passed). The program has recruited residents mainly through the match. Graduates rated most elements of the program highly. They felt well-prepared for their postgraduation jobs; most respondents reported routinely using preventive medicine skills learned during residency. Graduates either have gone into academic medicine (31%); public health (14%); clinical fellowships (18%); or primary care (9%); or they combine elements of clinical medicine and public health (28%). CONCLUSIONS: Integrating preventive medicine training into clinical residency programs may be an efficient, viable, and cost-effective way of creating more medical specialists with population-medicine skills.     

Abortion training in U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residency programs

The majority (72 percent) of U.S. residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology include first-trimester abortion techniques in their training. Programs affiliated with public hospitals or with private non-Catholic institutions are the most likely to provide such training, while Catholic-affiliated training programs and those at military hospitals are the least likely to do so. Approximately 23 percent of institutions include abortion training as a routine part of residency, and 50 percent offer it as optional training. The 28 percent of residency programs that offer no abortion training represents an almost fourfold increase since 1976. Although more of the large programs affiliated with public hospitals now include such training as a routine part of their residency programs, fewer of the private non-Catholic programs--where the largest proportion of residents are trained--do so. Consequently, the number of residents exposed to abortion training may have declined slightly over the past decade. Little difference exists between the proportion of programs that offer training in first-trimester techniques and the proportion that train in second-trimester techniques. Nine percent of programs report that all residents participate in first-trimester abortion training, and another 56 percent report that at least half of their residents do so. The participation rate is linked to the expectations of the program: Approximately 88 percent of programs that routinely incorporate abortion techniques in their training report that from one-half to all their residents participate, compared with about 55 percent of programs that offer the training as an option. Approximately 82 percent of programs teach abortion techniques up to at least 20 weeks' gestation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pediatric Residency Training and the Needs of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth

Objective: This study surveys the education of pediatric residents about the needs of gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) youth. The report measures the extent to which such training is considered valuable by those responsible for its administration and it evaluates the awareness of community referrals for GLB youth. Methodology: U.S. pediatric residency directors and chief residents were surveyed using a questionnaire designed by the authors. Percentage tabulation of the questions was performed. Chi-square analysis of two questions was done to determine if there was an association between the responses given and whether or not a respondent was from a program that offered training to their residents. Results: Over half of the respondents indicated that their programs offered training in the care of GLB youth. This increased to over three fourths when those respondents who indicated that their program was planning such training efforts were included. There was a broad distribution in the form and prevalence of training techniques. Over 90% of the respondents indicated that they valued the inclusion of GLB youth issues into residency curricula. A lesser majority indicated an awareness of community referrals for GLB youth. Conclusions: A large majority of pediatric residencies are either training their residents about the needs of GLB youth or are developing such training opportunities. The form and extent of the training varies widely. As such, the continued development of educational approaches and evaluation measures are encouraged.     

Length and content of family practice residency training

BACKGROUND: Family practice residency programs are based largely on a model implemented more than 30 years ago. Substantial changes in medical practice, technology, and knowledge necessitate reassessment of how family physicians are prepared for practice. METHODS: We simultaneously surveyed samples of family practice residency directors, first-year residents, and family physicians due for their first board recertification examination to determine, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, their opinions about the length and content of family practice residencies in the United States. RESULTS: Twenty-seven percent of residency directors, 32% of residents, and 28% of family physicians favored extending family practice residency to 4 years; very few favored 2- or 5-year programs. There was dispersion of opinions about possible changes within each group and among the three groups. Most in all three groups would be willing to extend residency for more training in office-based procedures and sports medicine, but many were unwilling to extend residency for more training in surgery or hospital-based care. Residents expressed more willingness than program directors or family physicians to change training. Barriers to change included disagreement about the need to change; program financing and opportunity costs, such as loss of income and delay in debt repayment; and potential negative impact on student recruitment. CONCLUSION: Most respondents support the current 3-year model of training. There is considerable interest in changing both the length and content of family practice training. Lack of consensus suggests that a period of elective experimentation might be needed to assure family physicians are prepared to meet the needs and expectations of their patients.     

A longitudinal community-based underserved care elective for family practice residents

The Longitudinal Community-based Underserved Care Elective at the Virginia Commonwealth University-Hanover Family Practice Residency Program is, to our knowledge, the first report of a longitudinal 2-year elective in community-based clinics for underserved patients that supplements continuity patient care at a residency family practice center. Providing longitudinal patient care in both settings offers benefits for participating residents and the community. Over the program's first 3 years, 13 residents have provided approximately 2,700 office visits to the area's uninsured poor. Residency programs lacking a significant underserved patient population but located near community-based clinics for the underserved may benefit from offering a similar experience.     

Ob/Gyn training in abortion care: results from a national survey

BackgroundAbortion is one of the most common health services utilized by women in the USA. Training new providers is an important factor in ensuring an adequate supply of clinicians to provide comprehensive reproductive health services.Study DesignData came from a mailed survey of obstetrician/gynecologists who completed residency in 2007.ResultsParticipation in first-trimester procedures training was lower than that in second-trimester procedures training. Notably, residents reported less exposure to medication abortion than nearly all other abortion procedures; only 41% of survey participants reported having received training in mifepristone/misoprostol. Significantly more respondents who trained in programs with routine training participated in first-trimester procedures, specifically medication abortion, manual vacuum aspiration and electric vacuum aspiration, compared to those who attended programs with elective training.DiscussionAs the vast majority of abortions in the USA occur during the first trimester, exposure to the full array of common first-trimester abortion procedures, including both medication abortion and aspiration abortion procedures, warrants attention. These findings suggest that residency education guidelines may need to be revised to ensure adequate training in medication abortion.