Pediatric Residents’ Perceptions of Community Involvement Prior to Residency

Solomon, Barry S.; Blaschke, Gregory S.; West, Daniel C.; Pan, Richard J.; Sanders, Lee; Swigonski, Nancy; Willis, Earnestine; Schwarz, Donald

doi:10.1016/j.ambp.2006.08.003

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Volume 6, Issue 6 , Pages 337-341, 1 November 2006

Pediatric Residents’ Perceptions of Community Involvement Prior to Residency

Barry S. Solomon, MD, MPH
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
- Address correspondence to Barry S. Solomon, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 North Wolfe Street, Room 2074, Baltimore, MD 21287
Gregory S. Blaschke, MD, MPH
- Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, Calif
Daniel C. West, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, Calif
Richard J. Pan, MD, MPH
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, Calif
Lee Sanders, MD, MPH
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla
Nancy Swigonski, MD, MPH
- Children’s Health Services Research, Indiana School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
Earnestine Willis, MD, MPH
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Donald Schwarz, MD, MPH
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa

Received 20 March 2006; accepted 2 August 2006.

Objectives

To describe baseline perceptions of first-year pediatric residents of participating in community activities, to determine whether demographic factors are related to perceived benefits and constraints, and to identify factors associated with expected community involvement.

Methods

Pediatric residents beginning their training in the fall of 2000 to 2003 participated in a 12-item self-administered written survey as part of the national evaluation of the Dyson Community Pediatrics Training Initiative.

Results

Of the 612 first-year residents surveyed (90% response rate), most reported they receive personal satisfaction (92%) and gain valuable skills and knowledge (83%) from their involvement in community activities. Less than a quarter felt peer support and professional recognition were benefits. Almost two thirds reported logistics and lost personal time as constraints to community involvement. Compared with their colleagues, older residents (>29 years) and underrepresented minority residents reported fewer constraints. Most residents (72%) expect moderate to substantial involvement in community activities after graduating. Those expecting greater involvement were more likely to report personal satisfaction, gaining valuable skills and knowledge, peer support, and the opportunity to spend time with like-minded peers as benefits.

Conclusions

Pediatric residents beginning their postgraduate training perceive numerous benefits from their participation in community activities and most expect a moderate degree of future community involvement. Residency directors should: 1) consider their trainees’ insights from prior community involvement and 2) integrate meaningful community experiences in ways that confront logistic barriers and time constraints.

Key words: community involvement, pediatrics, residency training