Pediatric residency education: is sports medicine getting its fair share?
BACKGROUND
Sports are the leading injury-related cause for pediatric primary care visits. Pediatric residency education guidelines suggest incorporating sports medicine (SM) education into curricula; however, research is lacking regarding effective teaching methods.


OBJECTIVE
To assess reported US pediatric residency SM curricula, teaching methods, and resident evaluation of SM education.


METHODS
Chief residents (CRs) and third-year residents (PL3s) from 100 randomly selected US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited residency programs, stratified by size and geographic location, received surveys regarding programs' SM curriculum and teaching methods and individuals' methods for learning SM.


RESULTS
Response rates were 63% and 39% for CRs and PL3s, respectively. According to CRs, 34% of programs had no one in charge of their SM curriculum. Lecture (77%) was the primary method used for teaching SM. Hands-on teaching (37%) was used less frequently. CRs stated that 29% of programs did not include musculoskeletal examination teaching in their curriculums; 24% did not include formal teaching of concussion management, and 29% did not include reasons for medical disqualification. PL3s rated teaching of joint examinations and the preparticipation physical as the most poorly taught components of the physical examination. PL3s rated hands-on teaching and patient experience as the best methods for improving SM education. CRs reported that only 36% of programs have discussed incorporating more SM into their curriculum.


CONCLUSIONS
SM education is deficient in US pediatric residency programs. Standardized curricula should be developed with a focus on hands-on training as a means for teaching SM to pediatric residents.
Demorest
Rebecca A
RA
Department of Orthopaedics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. rdemores@cnmc.org <rdemores@cnmc.org>
Bernhardt
David T
DT
Best
Thomas M
TM
Landry
Gregory L
GL
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007858:Learning; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States