Improving Inpatient Cystic Fibrosis Exacerbation Care: A Resident Physician Training Approach

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pulmonology
• Rare Diseases

Background:

• Increased life expectancy for people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) shifts care to adult providers.
• Adult providers often have limited experience managing CF.
• Educational tools for CF exacerbations are scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess internal medicine resident physician trainees' (RPTs) experience with hospitalized pwCF.
• Develop and evaluate educational tools to improve CF management.
• Enhance rare disease education for healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• Six-year longitudinal study of RPTs managing hospitalized pwCF.
• Mixed-method survey to inform tool creation (video didactic, order set).
• Knowledge assessment and multidisciplinary team meetings to track outcomes.

Main Results:

• 83% of surveyed RPTs cared for pwCF; most felt less comfortable than managing COPD.
• Knowledge scores improved post-implementation of educational tools.
• Significant improvement in CF-related diabetes management knowledge (38.4% to 61.5% correct, p=0.04).

Conclusions:

• Rare disease education necessitates targeted needs assessments.
• Sustained reinforcement and adaptable tools are crucial for effective learning.
• Improving resident education enhances care for people with cystic fibrosis.