Improving Preparatory Materials for the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Initial Certifying Exam: A Targeted Needs...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Preparing for the pediatric infectious diseases (PID) initial certifying examination is crucial for fellows.
• Existing preparatory materials may not adequately meet the needs of trainees.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the satisfaction of current PID fellows and recent graduates with existing PID initial certifying exam preparatory materials.
• To identify desired resources for improving exam preparation.

Main Methods:

• A national survey was distributed to current PID fellows.
• PID fellowship graduates from the past 10 years were also included in the survey.
• The survey assessed satisfaction with current study resources and preferences for new materials.

Main Results:

• Overall satisfaction with existing PID initial certifying exam preparatory materials was low among respondents.
• A significant need for enhanced study resources was identified.
• Additional board-style questions were the most frequently desired new resource.

Conclusions:

• Current preparatory materials for the PID initial certifying exam require improvement.
• Developing and providing more board-style questions could enhance trainee preparation and satisfaction.
• Future resources should focus on practice-oriented questions to better align with exam formats.