Evaluation of behavior and development training for pediatric residents

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medical Education
• Developmental Psychology
• Behavioral Pediatrics

Background:

• General pediatric residency programs often lack comprehensive training in behavior and development.
• Integrating behavioral and developmental concepts is crucial for holistic child healthcare.
• Assessing the impact of such integrated training on resident competence and attitudes is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a behavior and development training program integrated into pediatric residency.
• To assess residents' perceptions of relevance and competence in behavioral and developmental areas.
• To examine the impact of training on residents' clinical performance and attitudes toward specific illnesses.

Main Methods:

• A one-year evaluation of 32 pediatric residents participating in an integrated training program.
• Data collection included resident self-assessments (relevance, competence), supervisor ratings (clinical performance), and attitude assessments.
• Measures focused on behavior and development concepts and attitudes toward 10 specific illnesses.

Main Results:

• Residents reported high relevance and increasing competence in behavior and development concepts post-training.
• Establishing patient rapport significantly influenced supervisor ratings and resident self-competence.
• Initial negative attitudes toward behavioral/psychophysiological conditions showed positive shifts over the training year.

Conclusions:

• Integrated behavior and development training enhances pediatric residents' perceived competence and relevance of psychosocial concepts.
• Patient rapport is a critical factor in resident performance and self-perceived skill development.
• Training can positively influence residents' attitudes toward behavioral and psychophysiological aspects of pediatric care.