Categorical Pediatric Residency Program Curriculum Needs: A Study of Graduating Residents and Residency Program Leadership

BACKGROUND: Pediatric residency programs must adapt their curriculum to meet evolving patient needs yet face limited resources to implement changes resulting in gaps. We performed a categorical pediatric residency program curriculum needs assessment to inform curriculum development efforts. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Survey of Graduating Residents and pediatric program and associate program director polls conducted at a 2019 pediatric residency program director national meeting. We used conventional content analysis to code and categorize. RESULTS: Participants included 528 (53%) graduating residents representing 88% of programs, 89 program directors, and 177 associate program directors representing at minimum 45% of programs. Participants demonstrated concordance on the top 4 needs-additional clinical experiences, career-development, business of medicine, and health systems. Program leaders also identified wellness and resiliency; disparities; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and communication. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first categorical pediatric program general curriculum needs assessment conducted of pediatric leadership and graduating residents in over a decade. While program leadership and resident data were collected 2 years apart, we found concordance on the top 4 categories and consistency with prior national needs assessments with the exception of career development. New curriculum development efforts are underway.

Automated summary

This study conducted a first categorical pediatric program general curriculum needs assessment of pediatric leadership and graduating residents in over a decade, finding concordance on the top 4 needs of additional clinical experiences, career development, business of medicine, and health systems. Program leaders also identified wellness and resiliency, disparities, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and communication. New curriculum development efforts are underway.