School health training during pediatric residency

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Community Health
• Medical Education

Background:

• Pediatricians are increasingly focused on addressing child and family health issues outside clinical settings.
• Physician interaction with schools and communities is a key strategy for health outreach.
• School health training has been integrated into the pediatric residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch since 1979.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the pediatric residency school health training program.
• To assess graduates' perceptions of the training's value.
• To determine the extent of current school involvement among program alumni.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to pediatric residents who participated in school consultations between 1979 and 1988.
• Seventy-eight program graduates responded, yielding a 79% return rate.
• Data collected included evaluations of the training and current school consultation activities.

Main Results:

• Graduates, including generalists and subspecialists, reported high value for the school health training experience.
• The perceived value of the training was independent of the specific school site.
• 41% of surveyed pediatricians reported ongoing consultation with school personnel.

Conclusions:

• The school health training component is highly regarded by pediatric residency graduates.
• Findings suggest the effectiveness of this training model for promoting physician involvement in schools.
• The study provides insights for designing future pediatric residency curricula focused on school health.