Attending rounds: a survey of physician attitudes

To determine attitudes regarding attending rounds, the authors surveyed all internal medicine residents and attending physicians at the eight Army teaching hospitals. The response rate was 86%, including 166 (76%) of 217 residents and 246 (93%) of 264 attendings. Of 12 educational activities, attending rounds were ranked seventh by residents in their perceived value. Both residents and attendings favored sessions that lasted 90 minutes or less and were held three to four times per week. Most respondents felt case presentations should take 5 minutes or less and be delivered away from the patient's bedside. On average, residents preferred less time at the bedside than did attendings (25% vs. 34% of attending round time). Residents desired substantial control of the agenda for rounds and also wanted to be responsible for one-third of the teaching. The attending-physician attributes that residents valued most highly were fund of knowledge, availability, and relating well to housestaff. Since residents' and attending physicians' attitudes may differ, expectations regarding attending rounds should be clarified at the beginning of a ward rotation so that mutually acceptable goals can be established.