Pediatric resident education and needs assessment in clinical pharmacology.
OBJECTIVE
To identify perceived and unperceived educational needs of residents to organize a seminar series in clinical pharmacology.


METHODS
All pediatric residents (48) and all attending general pediatric staff (20) were sent structured questionnaires with potential seminar topics. Data from previous pharmacy chart audits and complaints lodged with patient care representatives were analyzed as the environmental scans.


RESULTS
There was a 75% response rate from both residents and staff. The responses were very similar and the only significant difference was the response to a seminar on correcting electrolyte imbalances which the residents favoured (p = 0.005). The environmental scans identified pain management as one of the main areas needing improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Perceived learning needs of residents are similar but not identical to those identified by the faculty. Environmental scanning can be used to identify unperceived learning needs.
Division of Emergency Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto, Canada. savithiri.ratnapalan@utoronto.ca
Savithiri
S
Ratnapalan
Shinya
S
Ito
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010601:Pharmacology, Clinical / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires