Graduating Pediatric Resident Reports on Procedural Training and Preparation

To determine pediatric resident training and preparation for 14 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-required procedures.

We included a national, random sample of 1000 graduating pediatric residents in 2015. For each of the ACGME-required procedures, residents were asked if they received training, successfully completed the procedure at least once, were comfortable performing the procedure unsupervised, and desired more training. To examine relationships among these 4 measures of training, we conducted logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristics curves. We used chi-square to examine whether desiring more training varied according to program size or career goal.

Response rate was 55% (550 of 1000). More than half of the residents received training in each procedure (56.4%-99.3% across procedures) and had successfully completed them at least once (59.8%-99.6%). However, 91.3% desired more training in at least 1 procedure, and 30.0% would like more training in more than half of the procedures (≥8). Relationships were found between the 4 training measures, with some relationships stronger than others. Residents with primary care goals were more likely than those with subspecialty or hospital practice goals to desire more training in abscess incision and drainage and temporary splinting of fractures (P < .05). Residents in large programs were more likely than those in smaller programs to desire more training in bladder catheterization, peripheral intravenous catheter placement, and venipuncture (P < .05).

Although pediatric residents are overall well prepared to perform ACGME-required procedures, exceptions exist. Considering the role of program size and resident career goal might help when optimizing and individualizing resident procedural training and preparation.