FEEDBACK FROM CHIEF RESIDENTS ABOUT PROPOSED REVISIONS OF THE SPECIALREQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNAL-MEDICINE RESIDENCIES

Purpose. To receive feedback from chief medical residents about what t hey and their residents would think of proc posed revisions of the Spe cial Requirements for Residency Programs in Internal Medicine. Method. A 71-item questionnaire was mailed in the fall of 1991 to a chief res ident at each of 426 U.S. internal medicine residencies. A five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree) , was used. In addition, the chief residents were asked for qualitativ e comments. The chief residents were requested to reflect residents' o pinions when completing the questionnaire. Results. 272 (64%) of the q uestionnaires were returned. The mean rating for all questions was 2.1 2, SD, 0.66. The 12 changes most strongly supported (means less than o r equal to 1-1.46) included enhanced training in interviewing, communi cation, and interpersonal skills and in physical examination skills; e mphasis on residency as an educational experience and on general inter nal medicine in the design of core lectures and ambulatory care clinic s; and a requirement for written parental leave policies. Areas of mod erate to less strong agreement included requirements for faculty and r esident research, and that residents report moonlighting experiences t o their program directors. Conclusion. The chief residents supported m ost of the proposed revisions of the Special Requirements, including a new proposal for enhancing professionalism in residency. The data rei nforce the need to make residency education consonant with the practic e of medicine and the changing demographics of the profession as well as to address resident indebtedness.