Evaluation of an elective course for preparing students to pursue postgraduate residency training

To describe the effectiveness of an elective for preparing students to pursue postgraduate residency training (PGRT).

A prospective, observational study of students enrolled in the "Preparation for PGRT" elective conducted between January 2015 and December 2016 was conducted. Survey tools and assessments were developed to evaluate various aspects of the course. Curriculum vitae and letters of intent were evaluated using rubrics. A thematic analysis on students' reflections of mock interviews was performed using the copy-and-paste method in MAXQDA 12. Student demographics and survey and assessment results were characterized descriptively. Pre- and post-course responses on course content and PGRT intentions were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank and student t-tests.

Students' self-assessed understanding of all course objectives increased from pre- to post-course (p < 0.05). Students' self-assessments for the mock interviews and continuing education presentation revealed growth in abilities and recognition of challenges to address in the future. A significant number of students who were undecided about completing a fellowship (p = 0.0009) or graduate school (p = 0.014) after graduation prior to the course indicated they would not pursue these options. Pre- and post-course knowledge assessments were administered, which demonstrated an increase in knowledge in six of ten course focus areas and decrease in one (p < 0.05).

The elective improved students' confidence in achieving course objectives, clarified their intentions to pursue PGRT, and allowed for initial attempts at important skills (i.e., interviewing and providing a formal presentation) in a low stakes environment.