Continuity clinic satisfaction and valuation in residency training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Internal Medicine Training
• Ambulatory Care Research

Background:

• Internal Medicine residency training in ambulatory care is perceived as inadequate.
• The value residents place on continuity clinic and influencing factors remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the value Internal Medicine residents assign to continuity clinic.
• To investigate how precepting, clinic operations, and patient demographics influence this valuation.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to Internal Medicine residents across three programs.
• Data collected included Likert-scale ratings on preceptors, patients, operations, and resident characteristics.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant associations.

Main Results:

• Resident satisfaction was highest for diverse illnesses, medical record systems, and receptive preceptors.
• Lower ratings were given for patient economic diversity, inpatient interruptions, and preceptors teaching physical exam skills.
• Positive ratings of preceptors, especially as role models, strongly correlated with valuing the clinic.

Conclusions:

• Resident satisfaction with preceptors, particularly their role modeling, is key to valuing continuity clinic.
• Effective clinic operations also positively correlate with residents' perceived value of ambulatory training.