Education in consultation: A comparative survey-based assessment of perceived educational effectiveness within a...

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Background: Education in consultation is a potentially valuable, but understudied, element of medical education. Inpatient consultation is an opportunity for significant subspecialist contact for resident trainees and an avenue for improving their knowledge and patient care across content areas. We evaluated the perceived educational effectiveness of education in consultation among internal medicine residents, within a university and a community-based program, as well as the role of barriers in medical training that may limit education. Methods: We used a web-based survey expanded from a previously published survey consisting of 12 questions, including one free-response, on education in consultation. Data were analyzed descriptively and qualitatively. We surveyed residents from two internal medicine programs in 2016. One within a large university-based hospital and the second within a smaller community-based safety-net hospital. Results: 91/198 (46%) of residents responded. Overall results from both programs were similar despite their structural differences. Residents viewed education in consultation as a priority and the majority felt it was at least moderately effective but underutilized. Importantly, educational interactions are largely dependent on outreach from residents. While in-person teaching interactions were the most effective, key barriers to these interactions include a lack of time, difficulty locating residents, and the perception of residents as being too busy. Conclusions: Inpatient consultation offers a unique opportunity for specialist-led education for internal medicine residents. It is potentially effective but constrained extensively in modern training environments. Interventions aimed at emphasizing education in consultation within fellowships and residencies, increasing in-person resident-specialist interactions, and addressing structural barriers, may improve resident knowledge across specialties and strengthen patient care.