ORIENTATION TO SOCIAL MEDICINE AND THE BRONX - AN EDUCATIONAL-EXPERIENCE FOR ADULT LEARNERS

Background: Little attention has been paid to the orientation process used to assist residents in their transition from student to physician . Description: The Residency Program in Social Medicine of the Montefi ore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine developed an in novative orientation for Ist-year residents in primary care internal m edicine, pediatrics, and family practice, built on the principles of a dult education. Evaluation: Formative evaluation questionnaires from f our orientation cohorts, 1990-93, were analyzed (total residents = 77 respondents = 66, response rate = 86%) including both quantitative (Li kert scab) and qualitative assessments of its goals and learning activ ities. Over the 4 years analyzed, 95% of the residents' median evaluat ion met or exceeded their expectations. More than 60% of the residents ' median evaluations of all learning activities were raced very good t o excellent. Qualitative evaluations highlighted both the special virt ues and drawbacks of such an adult learning experience. Conclusions: T his orientation conforms to the principles of adult education and has consistently achieved its goals in orienting residents to the history, organization, and culture of their clinical institutions and communit y. Copyright (C) 1998 Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.