Posttraining survey of recent pediatric gastroenterology fellowship graduates

The North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Training Committee conducted a survey of recent fellowship graduates to assess their confidence in procedure performance, disease management, practice habits, and satisfaction with mentorship.

The survey was developed by the Training Committee members and distributed during the summer of 2023 to fellowship graduates who finished training between 2018 and 2023. Confidence levels regarding treating specific diseases and performing gastrointestinal procedures were assessed, including analysis comparing the data to 2015 survey results.

The response rate was 21% (140/676). Confidence levels in the performance of most procedures and management of most diseases were high. Graduates of smaller programs reported greater confidence in performing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement and percutaneous liver biopsy. Outstanding research mentorship was reported more commonly with mentors funded via the National Institute of Health (NIH) than non-R/K funded mentors (54% vs. 28%, p = 0.002). Outstanding clinical and career mentorship was similar between large-sized, medium-sized, and small-sized programs. Preparedness for job hunting improved with time (52% vs. 30%, p = 0.005) while preparedness for advocacy work decreased (39% vs. 58%, p = 0.007).

Respondents reported high confidence in many core activities of pediatric gastroenterology. Satisfaction with research mentorship was higher for NIH-funded mentors. Confidence in performing certain procedures declined over time possibly because some centers shifted the responsibility of those procedures to other specialties. Improved confidence in some training-related topics such as job-hunting preparedness coincided with changes made to the curriculum for NASPGHAN's fellows conferences.