Using Resident and Faculty Focus Groups to Obtain Stakeholder Input during the ACGME Self-study

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education describes steps to guide programs regarding self-study. The process relies heavily on obtaining stakeholder input to validate findings. Focus groups have been noted to provide input and data not elicited using other methods. Our objective was to show the value of focus groups in obtaining a clear picture of stakeholder priorities as they relate to program aims, opportunities, threats, areas for improvement, and sustainability of improvements.

We conducted a series of focus groups in 2017-2018 at a pediatric residency program with residents and core faculty members. The first session for each group elicited input regarding program aims, opportunities, and threats. The second session focused on evaluating program progress over the past 10 years and identifying strengths and needed areas for improvement. We documented responses obtained during the focus groups and used inductive content analysis methods to identify major themes. We repeated the focus groups every 6 months.

We identified 8 program aims and pinpointed opportunities and threats. Areas for improvement were selected and then presented back to the stakeholders who confirmed their appropriateness. Repetition of the focus groups every 6 months facilitated ongoing measurement of progress and promoted the development of multiple plan, do, study, act cycles for areas of improvement.

Focus groups are an effective way to initiate the self-study process, examine the program aims, opportunities, and threats, and formulate a detailed improvement plan. They are also useful as part of continual evaluation during a dynamic change process.