Gathering Trainee Feedback to Improve Programs With Low Annual ACGME Survey Content Area Compliance: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Graduate Medical Education
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Annual Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Resident/Fellow Surveys are crucial for evaluating training programs.
• Directly gathering trainee feedback can proactively identify program issues and misunderstandings.
• Timely corrective actions are essential for continuous program improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically gather comprehensive, high-quality trainee feedback on ACGME survey results.
• To involve trainees in identifying and addressing program improvement areas.
• To utilize an utilization-focused evaluation approach for actionable insights.

Main Methods:

• The Focus Group Forum (FGF) was established to collect trainee feedback.
• Trainees from programs with <80% compliance in key areas were invited.
• Neutral moderators and scribes facilitated structured discussions and anonymous polling.

Main Results:

• In 2021, 6 programs participated, with 44% of invited trainees attending FGF sessions.
• Key issues identified included survey question misinterpretation and lack of policy knowledge.
• Trainees reported perceived inability to share feedback, feeling overwhelmed, and insufficient protected educational time.

Conclusions:

• The FGF process provides actionable insights into trainee experiences and program challenges.
• Addressing identified issues can lead to improved training program quality and compliance.
• Further development of the FGF process aims to include all stakeholders and enhance outcome tracking.