Improving Internal Medicine Resident Comfort With Shoulder and Knee Joint Injections Using an Injection Workshop.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Musculoskeletal Medicine
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Joint injections are valuable treatments for musculoskeletal conditions.
• Confidence in performing these procedures is crucial for effective patient care.
• Training gaps may exist for residents and faculty in joint injection techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a brief teaching session on resident confidence in performing shoulder and knee joint injections.
• To determine if improvements in confidence are durable over time.
• To evaluate the utility of a workshop model for enhancing procedural skills training.

Main Methods:

• A 90-minute workshop was delivered to residents and faculty, covering indications, contraindications, risks, benefits, supplies, and techniques.
• Participants practiced injections on simulation models and identified bony landmarks.
• Confidence levels were assessed using 5-point Likert scales immediately post-workshop and at a 4-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Mean confidence for knee injections increased from 2.2 to 3.8 (p=.006) and for shoulder injections from 1.6 to 3.8 (p=.0002).
• Confidence in knowledge of risks, benefits, supplies, and indications also significantly increased.
• Confidence levels remained elevated above baseline at the 4-month follow-up, indicating durable improvement.

Conclusions:

• A concise, workshop-based teaching intervention can lead to significant and lasting improvements in trainee confidence for joint injections.
• This training model is resource-efficient and can be integrated into existing didactic curricula.
• Enhancing procedural confidence through such workshops may improve clinical performance and patient access to joint injection procedures.