Medical informatics education in paediatric residency training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Informatics
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Medical Informatics (MI) education integration into residency curricula is evolving.
• Assessing current MI educational practices is crucial for curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the inclusion of Medical Informatics education in pediatric residency programs.
• To identify areas for improvement in MI training for residents.

Main Methods:

• A mailed survey was distributed to chief residents in American pediatric residency programs in Autumn 1996.
• Survey questions addressed computer use, faculty influence, and curriculum expansion plans.

Main Results:

• 80% of programs responded, indicating high resident computer use for patient data (97%) and Medline searches (70%).
• Less than half of residents utilized the Internet or computer-based learning. Formal computer lectures were offered by 37%, and hands-on Internet training by 22%.
• Programs with Informatics faculty showed a greater likelihood of future curriculum planning (P=0.04).

Conclusions:

• Resident computer use is high for clinical tasks but lower for self-directed learning.
• Many pediatric residency programs are actively expanding their Medical Informatics curricula.
• Faculty without specialized Informatics training can contribute to resident computer education, with self-study approaches being well-received.