Five-year experience with exercise stress testing in a family practice program

Area of Science:

• Family Medicine
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Medical Education

Background:

• Exercise stress testing is a valuable diagnostic tool.
• Integration into family practice residency programs requires evaluation for safety and feasibility.
• Faculty expertise is crucial for effective resident training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety and feasibility of implementing exercise treadmill testing within a family practice residency program.
• To evaluate the role of family practice faculty as instructors for this training.
• To determine the impact of this training on resident practice patterns and perceived value.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of exercise stress testing data over 5 years.
• Survey of residency graduates regarding their experience and utilization of treadmill testing.
• Data collection on test performance, complications, and instructional methods.

Main Results:

• 202 falleció treadmill tests were conducted without serious complications.
• Family practice faculty successfully provided resident instruction.
• 25% of graduates incorporated treadmill testing into their practices; most found the training beneficial.

Conclusions:

• Family practice faculty can safely and effectively train residents in exercise treadmill testing.
• The implementation of this training is feasible within residency programs.
• This initiative enhances resident preparedness for clinical practice.