Pediatric rheumatology: a survey of physician practices and fellowship programs

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rheumatology
• Medical Education
• Healthcare Services Research

Background:

• The field of pediatric rheumatology in the United States was developing in 1982.
• Understanding the landscape of pediatric rheumatology physicians and training programs was essential for assessing service availability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a pilot survey of pediatric rheumatology physicians and fellowship training programs in the US.
• To gather data on physician training, practice characteristics, and fellowship program details.
• To identify indicators of demand for pediatric rheumatology services.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to physicians listed in the American Rheumatism Association (ARA) directory who indicated they cared for children with rheumatic diseases.
• The survey achieved a response rate of 57.6% among the targeted physicians.
• Data collected included physician demographics, training backgrounds, practice settings, and fellowship program funding, size, and focus.

Main Results:

• The survey identified 35 directors of pediatric rheumatology training programs in the US among the respondents.
• Basic information on the training and practice characteristics of respondent physicians was obtained.
• Details regarding the funding, size, and emphasis of fellowship programs were collected.

Conclusions:

• The 1982 pilot survey provided foundational data on the state of pediatric rheumatology in the US.
• The findings offer insights into the supply of pediatric rheumatologists and the structure of their training.
• The study highlighted the need to further investigate the demand for pediatric rheumatology services.