Caring for Children in Immigrant Families and Children in Low-Income Families: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Pediatric Residents

One in four US children live in immigrant families, and 16% of US children live in poverty. To provide optimal medical care for these populations, additional knowledge and skills are needed. It is unknown whether residency training is adequately preparing physicians to care for these populations. We surveyed pediatric residents to understand if training on the needs of children in immigrant and low-income families was associated with self-reported preparedness and plans to care for these populations.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a large midwestern pediatric residency. Questions related to resident demographics, exposure to specific curricular components, future career plans, and residents' report of feeling prepared to care for children in immigrant families and children in low-income families. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test.

Of 158 potential responses, 96 completed surveys were analyzed (61% response rate). Residents had been interested in training programs that would allow them to care for children in immigrant families (76%) and children in low-income families (93%). Most residents (89%) felt prepared to care for children in low-income families. Fewer residents (59%) felt prepared to care for children in immigrant families. Exposure to global health lectures (p = 0.04) and cultural humility training (p = 0.02) and other global health topics was associated with residents reporting feeling prepared to care for children in immigrant families. Residents whose future career plan included care for children in immigrant families or international populations were more likely to be exposed to elective global health training opportunities.

Pediatric residents are interested in caring for children in low-income and immigrant families. Exposure to specific global health and cultural humility training sessions was associated with feeling that residency prepared them to care for children in immigrant families and implementation of similar training into residency programs should be considered to improve care for immigrant families in the US.