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Procedural Skills Training in Internal Medicine Residencies
A Survey of Program Directors
- Robert S. Wigton, MD;
- Linda L. Blank, BA;
- Jo A. Nicolas, BA; and
- Thomas G. Tape, MD
Abstract
Study Objective: To obtain the opinions of internal medicine residency program directors about which procedural skills residents master during training and the amount of training needed to attain and maintain competence in each procedure.
Design: A mailed survey to all program directors in the United States.
Respondents: Program directors or their designees from 389 of 431 (90%) internal medicine residency programs.
Results: For several procedures, 40% more respondents said all residents should master the procedure than said all their residents do master the procedure. Some procedures commonly done in practice were perceived as mastered by all residents in fewer than half of the programs. There were few differences in procedures learned by size or type of program. A fellowship program did affect exposure to some procedures in the field covered by the program. Median recommendations of training needed to master each procedure were similar to those of practicing internists for most procedures.
Conclusions: Current residency training does not assure competency in all of the procedures the general internist does in practice. Program directors should examine which skills are adequately taught, test competence, and ways to improve residents' skills. Practicing general internists should have access to supervised training in procedural skills.
Article and Author Information
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From the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska; and the American Board of Internal Medicine, Portland, Oregon. For current author addresses, see end of text.
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This study was funded in part by and conducted under the auspices of the Clinical Privileges Project Steering Committee of the American College of Physicians.
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Requests for Reprints: Robert S. Wigton MD, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Dewey Avenue, Omaha, NE 68105.
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Current Author Addresses: Drs. Wigton and Tape and Ms. Nicolas: Section of General Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Dewey Avenue, Omaha, NE 68105.
Ms. Blank: American Board of Internal Medicine, 200 Southwest Market St., Portland, OR 97201.
- ©1989 American College of Physicians
