Training in adolescent health: how much have second-year residents had?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the level of training second-year family medicine residents have had in adolescent medicine.


METHODS
Web-based survey.


METHODS
Canadian family medicine residency programs.


METHODS
English-speaking second-year family medicine residents.


METHODS
Residents' self-reported levels of training in adolescent health, specifically, the types of formal and informal education in adolescent health provided by family medicine residency programs. Residents' self-reported comfort in dealing with common health problems in adolescence was also examined.


RESULTS
Responses were received from 78 residents representing 11 different programs across Canada. About 38.5% of family medicine residents had attended lectures on adolescent health. Only 37.2% of residents felt comfortable with their knowledge of adolescent health. Respondents indicated that most of their education in adolescent health occurred during family medicine rotations. Only 24% of respondents supplemented their training with attendance at school-based or reproductive health clinics.


CONCLUSIONS
Learning how to deal effectively with teenagers should be an essential part of family medicine training, yet family medicine residents receive only a small amount of exposure to adolescent health issues in primary care settings. Few residents attend school-based or reproductive health clinics even though such activity is recommended by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. A more structured adolescent health experience in family medicine residency would help ensure that Canadian adolescents benefit from informed and experienced family physicians.
Klein
Doug
D
Continuous Professional Learning, Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. doug.klein@ualberta.ca
Mehta
Karishma
K
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D002170:Canada; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education