Resident education in developmental behavioral pediatrics: the impact of the 80-hour work week

This study assessed the structure of pediatric resident developmental behavioral pediatrics (DBP) rotations in the context of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty hour mandates.

: We distributed an online survey addressing rotation structure, call schedule, and impact of the duty hour policy to resident DBP rotation directors in 114 of 204 pediatric residency programs in the United States and Canada and received responses from 81 programs (71% response rate).

Seventy-five percent of respondents reported an average of 16% reduction in their DBP rotation after implementation of the Duty Hours rule in 2003. More programs having overnight calls during the rotation reported decreases versus those without overnight calls (91% vs 52%, p < .001).

Decreases in exposure to DBP, a result of duty hour mandates, may be negatively impacting benefits of mandatory DBP rotations. Attention may need to be given to the consequences for resident education in DBP.