Multi-Specialty Boot Camp: Enhancing Student Confidence in Residency Preparation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Graduate Medical Education
• Student Preparedness

Background:

• Senior preparatory courses, or boot camps, are crucial for bridging the gap between medical school knowledge and residency expectations.
• Interventions focusing on multi-specialty training and student confidence remain under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a multi-specialty, school-wide boot camp for 4th-year medical students.
• To assess the impact of the curriculum on specialty milestones, entrustable professional activities, and student confidence.

Main Methods:

• A school-wide boot camp was implemented for 4th-year medical students preparing for residency.
• Faculty pooled resources to cover common milestone topics across multiple specialties.
• Surveys were administered pre-boot camp, immediately post-boot camp, and three months into residency.

Main Results:

• 185 students participated; 162 completed initial surveys, and 75 provided data at all time points.
• Students reported increased confidence in communicating with families and in specialty skills post-boot camp.
• The boot camp positively impacted students' perceived preparedness for internship.

Conclusions:

• A multi-specialty, school-wide capstone curriculum significantly boosts student confidence and readiness for residency.
• Such programs benefit both students and faculty, warranting consideration by medical schools.
• Future research should investigate student competence in acquiring specialty skills.