Use of an electronic record audit to enhance mental health training for pediatric residents.
BACKGROUND
Increased emphasis has been placed in pediatric residency programs on the identification and treatment of child mental health disorders.


METHODS
An electronic record audit was developed to assess residents' behavioral health skills and optimize behavioral health training. Information from the electronic audit was used to provide feedback to preceptors, modify the training curriculum, and increase access to mental health referrals.


RESULTS
The audit determined the frequency of detected mental health problems, types of disorders identified, use of screening instruments, and behavioral health interventions and/or referrals by pediatric residents over a 2-year period. However, measurement of the effectiveness of curriculum and training interventions was undetermined due to the evolving implementation of changes based on continuous audit findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations for future use of this technique include establishing baseline skills and targeting specific areas for training and evaluation, providing feedback to residents, and tracking specific patients over time.
Williams
Jane
J
Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. janewill@wfubmc.edu
Klinepeter
Kurt
K
Palmes
Guy
G
Foy
Jane Meschan
JM
D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003479:Curriculum; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008485:Medical Audit; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D011446:Prospective Studies