Global health education for pediatric residents: a national survey

To assess exposure to global health (GH) training, future plans to work or volunteer abroad, and the importance of GH training in program selection among graduating pediatric residents.

A national, random sample of graduating pediatric residents was surveyed in the 2008 American Academy of Pediatrics' Annual Graduating Residents Survey. Questions specific to GH training were included.

The adjusted survey response rate was 59% (546 of 927); 534 residents from 170 programs responded to at least 1 GH question. GH training was an essential/very important factor in selecting a residency program for 22% of the respondents, and 21% reported participating in GH training during residency. In multivariate analyses, participation in GH training was associated with being single (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.90 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-3.27]), graduating from a US medical school (aOR: 2.45 [95% CI: 1.14-5.28]), lower educational debt (aOR: 2.63 [95% CI: 1.54-4.49]), and training at a larger program (aOR: 2.73 [95% CI: 1.47-5.06]). One-third of respondents reported definite/very likely plans to work/volunteer in a developing country after residency; these respondents were more likely to be single (aOR: 1.82 [95% CI: 1.14-2.92]) and international medical school graduates (aOR: 2.10 [95% CI: 1.19-3.73]). Fewer than 50% of respondents received education in the majority of topics considered essential to GH training.

GH-training opportunities are important to pediatric residents when selecting a program, and many are graduating with intentions to volunteer/work in a developing country after residency. The low exposure to GH topics among a broad cross-section of pediatric residents suggests that additional work is needed to adequately prepare pediatricians for work in GH after residency.