TY - JOUR
T1 - Internal medicine resident perceptions of optimal training duration
AU - Thomas, Kris G.
AU - West, Colin P.
AU - Popkave, Carol
AU - Weinberger, Steven E.
AU - Kolars, Joseph C.
PY - 2007/10
Y1 - 2007/10
N2 - PURPOSE: To describe internal medicine residents' opinions regarding the optimal duration of internal medicine residency training, and to assess whether these opinions are associated with specific career interests. METHOD: A national cohort study was conducted during the 2005 Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (IM-ITE), which involved 382 of 388 (98.5%) U.S. internal medicine programs. A sample of 14,579 residents enrolled in three-year categorical or primary care training programs in the United States reported their opinions regarding optimal residency training duration on the IM-ITE 2005 Residents Questionnaire. Reported optimal training duration was assessed by postgraduate training year, sex, medical school location, program type, and reported career plan. RESULTS: Among the residents surveyed, 78.1% reported a three-year optimal length of internal medicine residency training, 15.3% preferred a two-year training duration, and 6.7% preferred a four-year duration. Residents planning careers in general medicine, hospital medicine, and subspecialty fields all preferred a three-year training duration (83.8%, 82.6%, and 75.9%, respectively). Residents planning subspecialty careers were more likely than those planning general or hospital medicine careers to prefer a two-year program (18.7% versus 7.4% and 8.3%). Residents planning generalist or hospitalist careers were more likely to favor a four-year program (8.9% and 9.1%, respectively) compared with residents planning subspecialty careers (5.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Most internal medicine residents endorse a three-year optimal duration of internal medicine residency training. This perspective should be considered in further national discussions regarding the optimal duration of internal medicine training.
AB - PURPOSE: To describe internal medicine residents' opinions regarding the optimal duration of internal medicine residency training, and to assess whether these opinions are associated with specific career interests. METHOD: A national cohort study was conducted during the 2005 Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (IM-ITE), which involved 382 of 388 (98.5%) U.S. internal medicine programs. A sample of 14,579 residents enrolled in three-year categorical or primary care training programs in the United States reported their opinions regarding optimal residency training duration on the IM-ITE 2005 Residents Questionnaire. Reported optimal training duration was assessed by postgraduate training year, sex, medical school location, program type, and reported career plan. RESULTS: Among the residents surveyed, 78.1% reported a three-year optimal length of internal medicine residency training, 15.3% preferred a two-year training duration, and 6.7% preferred a four-year duration. Residents planning careers in general medicine, hospital medicine, and subspecialty fields all preferred a three-year training duration (83.8%, 82.6%, and 75.9%, respectively). Residents planning subspecialty careers were more likely than those planning general or hospital medicine careers to prefer a two-year program (18.7% versus 7.4% and 8.3%). Residents planning generalist or hospitalist careers were more likely to favor a four-year program (8.9% and 9.1%, respectively) compared with residents planning subspecialty careers (5.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Most internal medicine residents endorse a three-year optimal duration of internal medicine residency training. This perspective should be considered in further national discussions regarding the optimal duration of internal medicine training.
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U2 - 10.1097/ACM.0b013e31814a5192
DO - 10.1097/ACM.0b013e31814a5192
M3 - Article
C2 - 17895665
AN - SCOPUS:34748925848
SN - 1040-2446
VL - 82
SP - 996
EP - 999
JO - Academic Medicine
JF - Academic Medicine
IS - 10
ER -