Primary care residency programme evaluation: an analysis of three resident cohorts

The purpose of this study was to conduct a longitudinal evaluation of a university primary care (PC) medical residency programme and use the results to plan for future curriculum development. Overall performance and the ambulatory medical care of three consecutive resident cohorts training from 1982 to 1987 was assessed by attending physicians. PC residents' performance in ambulatory continuity practice was also compared to that of traditional residents' performance in 1985-86. The scoring profile of primary care attendings was compared to that of other attendings. Residents received lowest scores in diagnostic evaluation, leadership and administration. Their best evaluations were in medical care, personal attributes and communication. Two of the three primary care cohorts received lower medical care scores in ambulatory continuity practice compared to other rotations, but had higher overall scores in ambulatory continuity practice than did traditional residents in 1985-86. Primary care attendings gave lower scores to primary care residents than did other faculty.