Expectations of and for internal medicine clerkship directors: how are we doing?

The purpose of this study was to determine how well published expectations are being met for internal medicine (IM) clerkship directors (CDs).

In 2005, the Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine (CDIM) surveyed its institutional members. One section addressed expectations, in terms of requirements and resources, of and for CDs. Survey questions were categorical (yes, no, or unsure) addressing the essential responsibilities and resources outlined in the Alliance for Clinical Education (ACE) consensus statement. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square testing were used for inferential statistical procedures.

Eighty-eight of 109 institutional members responded to the survey (81% response rate). For each responsibility, more than 90% of respondents reported that they were required to meet the expectation; however, for each of the 8 essential resources, the percentage of respondents who were meeting the expectation varied from 41% for additional time and resources for administering other courses to 95% for sufficient material resources to support clerkship requirements. With the exception of larger institutions having greater access to new technology (p = .038, Mann-Whitney U) and a defined budget (p = .012, Mann-Whitney U), there were no differences in demographics between respondents who did and did not meet expectations or resources.

IM CDs reported that they are expected to achieve essential responsibility benchmarks. Essential resources were being met in a variable fashion.