Inpatient Rounding Practices in Otolaryngology Residency Programs

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Otolaryngology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Inpatient rounding is a traditional medical practice.
• Current research on inpatient rounding methods and satisfaction is limited.
• Changes in healthcare necessitate re-evaluation of rounding practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess current inpatient rounding methods in otolaryngology residency programs.
• To evaluate resident and attending physician satisfaction with existing rounding practices.

Main Methods:

• A survey was developed by the Society of University Otolaryngologists resident committee.
• Surveys were distributed to 450 otolaryngology residents.
• A 32% response rate was achieved.

Main Results:

• 64% of attendings perform bedside rounds.
• 44% reported attending physician participation at least weekly; 21% reported daily.
• Attending physicians expressed neutral opinions on the adequacy of their participation (mean = 3.8).

Conclusions:

• There is a significant lack of research regarding inpatient rounding practices.
• Future studies should investigate specific rounding techniques to enhance patient safety and resident education.
• Optimizing attending physician involvement in rounds is crucial for effective medical training.