Enhancing the Teaching Environment: 3-Year Follow-Up of a Resident-Led Residents-as-Teachers Program

ABSTRACT Background Previous faculty-driven residents-as-teachers (RAT) models have had limited efficacy and sustainability. Objective To evaluate the acceptability and effects of a resident-led RAT program on resident teaching. Methods In October 2016, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) residents at a large academic institution implemented a resident-led RAT program, consisting of a steering committee of peer-selected residents with 2 faculty mentors who planned education-focused resident didactics and journal clubs, organized resident involvement in clerkship activities, and recognized residents who excelled in teaching as Distinguished Educators (DEs). From July 2016 through June 2019, using the Kirkpatrick Model, we evaluated the program with annual resident surveys assessing self-perception of 13 teaching skills (5-point Likert scale) and value of RAT program, institutional end-of-clerkship student evaluations of resident teaching, and resident participation in DE award. Results Annual resident survey response rates ranged from 63% to 88%. Residents' self-reported teaching skills improved significantly in 11 of 13 domains from 2016 to 2018 (improvements ranging from 0.87–1.42; 5-point Likert scale; P < .05). Of the 2018 respondents, 80% agreed that the resident-led RAT program added value to the residency. For 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 academic years, 47% and 48% of medical students (100% response rate) strongly agreed that residents provided effective teaching compared to 30% in 2016–2017 (P < .05). Ten residents have graduated as DEs during this time period. Conclusions A resident-led RAT program increased residents' self-reported teaching skills, improved medical student perceptions of teaching quality, and was sustainable and acceptable over a 3-year period.

Teaching scripts via smartphone app facilitate resident-led teaching of medical students

Background Previous studies have suggested that resident physicians are the most meaningful teachers during the clinical clerkships of third-year medical students (MS3s). Unfortunately, residents often feel unprepared for this crucial role. The pediatrics clerkship at our institution identified a paucity in the frequency of resident-led teaching with MS3s. Lack of confidence, suboptimal teaching space, and insufficient time were cited as the most significant barriers. To enhance resident-led teaching of MS3s, we created teaching scripts of general pediatrics topics accessible via a smartphone application (app). Methods Prior to the implementation of the app, MS3s and pediatric residents were surveyed on clerkship teaching practices. From May 2017 through July 2018, pediatric residents working with MS3s were introduced to the app, with both groups queried on resident teaching habits afterward. We compared pre-intervention and post-intervention data of time spent teaching, teaching frequency, and a ranking of pediatric resident teaching performance compared to residents of other MS3 core clerkships. Results 44 out of 90 residents (49%) responded to a pre-intervention survey on baseline teaching habits. 49 out of 61 residents (80%) completed our post-intervention survey. Pre-intervention, 75% (33/44) of residents reported spending less than 5 min per teaching session on average. Post-intervention, 67% (33/49) reported spending more than 5 min (p < 0.01). 25% (11/44) of residents reported teaching at least once per day pre-intervention, versus 55% (27/49, p = 0.12) post-intervention. Post-intervention data demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between app use and increased frequency of teaching (p < 0.01). The MS3 average ranking of pediatric resident teaching increased from 2.4 to 3.4 out of 6 (p < 0.05) after this intervention. Conclusions Residency programs looking to reform resident-led teaching, particularly of residents early in their training, should consider our novel approach. In addition to addressing barriers to teaching and creating a platform for near-peer teaching, it is adaptable to any specialty or learner level. Future direction includes developing objective measures for teaching performance and content proficiency to better assess our intervention as an educational curriculum, as well as further investigation of the intervention as a controlled trial.

Effectiveness of surgical residents compared to surgical faculty in teaching trauma evaluation and management

Introduction Senior medical students learn trauma principles in a 90-min interactive teaching session based on the trauma evaluation and management module designed by the American College of Surgeons. However, the number of surgical faculty available to conduct these interactive small group sessions is limited. The goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of surgical residents to that of surgical faculty in teaching trauma principles. Methods 53 senior medical students received trauma teaching from trauma faculty ( n = 22), trauma residents ( n = 21), or no teaching ( n = 10). Students were tested on cognitive trauma knowledge (20 multiple choice questions) and clinical trauma simulation (using objective structured clinical performance score). All students completed a 5-point subjective questionnaire. Results Students receiving trauma teaching outperformed students receiving no teaching in the knowledge test (mean 13.0 ± 3.6 standard deviation (SD) vs. 8.4 ± 2.4 SD, p < 0.05), while faculty and resident teaching outcomes were similar (mean 12.6 ± 3.0 SD vs. 13.4 ± 4.1, p = 0.45). Similarly, in the clinical trauma simulation, students receiving trauma teaching scored better (objective score mean 78% vs. 56%, p < 0.05), while there was no difference between faculty and resident teaching outcomes (objective score mean 77% vs. 80%, p = 0.52). In the subjective questionnaire, students who received trauma teaching rated themselves higher on a scale of 10 in trauma knowledge and skills than those who did not have formal teaching (mean 5.2 vs. 2.1, p < 0.05) as resident and attending teaching group ratings were similar. Conclusions Although small group discussions and increased simulation enhance undergraduate surgical trauma education, the number of faculty surgeons needed to fully incorporate these activities is limited. Objective and perceived effectiveness of teaching trauma management by surgical residents compared to trauma attendings is equivalent. This highlights the opportunity to incorporate residents into teaching roles to bridge the gap in undergraduate trauma education.

Training upcoming academicians through interviews of pharmacy resident teaching certificate leaders

Background: Discovering methods of Residency Teaching Certificate Programs (RTCPs) will allow for collaboration in developing best practices to ensure both high quality of programming and outcomes for participants. Objective: The primary objective of this project is to describe and compare how RTCPs are conducted in the state of Ohio. Secondarily, to identify current practices in assessing RTCPs in both programmatic effectiveness and individual resident teaching outcomes. Methods: The seven coordinators of the seven Ohio RTCPs (n=7) were contacted via email and asked to participate in an IRB-approved interview, either in-person or telephonically. Standardized questions were developed to inquire about six categories of interest: demographics/background, administration/logistics, content, assessment of the resident, program financing, and program continuous quality improvement (CQI). All seven programs participated in interviews. Data was coded by multiple members of the research team for presentation in aggregate form. Results: RTCPs include seminar days at the respective pharmacy colleges; however, the number, length, and content of seminars vary. The majority of programs (n=5) stated using inherited curriculum and materials passed down from previous coordinators. While each RTCP requires participants to submit a teaching portfolio, only three of seven programs assess the summative portfolios. All programs (n=7) award participants a certificate based on completion of requirements without a defined minimum performance standard. Two programs are collecting participant feedback after every session for CQI however no programs are completing an annual programmatic assessment of resident outcomes. The majority of coordinators (n=7) are interested in collaborating and sharing “best practices” between RTCPs in the state. Conclusions: Although published and available resources exist surrounding the development and delivery of RTCPs, in Ohio, their use varies greatly. The most striking outcomes highlighted the lack of resident and program assessment of outcomes in RTCPs. The research has brought forth ideas of ways to improve these programs through resident assessment, program assessment and also leads to reflection and innovation around the best way to deliver these programs.