Performance outcomes in anesthesiology residents completing categorical (anesthesia) or advanced (nonspecific) internship training.
BACKGROUND
The internship or first year (PGY 1) of anesthesiology training may be categorical (within anesthesiology), or obtained in more diverse settings. Revisions recently proposed in the training requirements incorporated the PGY 1 into the existing curriculum.


OBJECTIVE
We studied whether this change improved measurable outcomes.


METHODS
There were 518 residents studied retrospectively from four institutions that offered entry following both "Categorical" and "Other" internships. Thus the training in clinical anesthesia was identical.


RESULTS
No differences were observed in percentile scores on the Anesthesiology In-Service Training Examination during clinical anesthesia training, the receipt of awards, board certification or time to certification, or in reports of unsatisfactory performance to the American Board of Anesthesiology. "Categorical" residents were more frequently appointed chief resident.


CONCLUSIONS
Easily accessible performance measures may function as valuable aids in decision making, particularly when significant changes in curricula are contemplated. Data do not support the proposed changes in anesthesiology.
Younker
T Dirk
TD
Department of Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Conlay
Lydia A
LA
Searle
Nancy S
NS
Khan
Myrna
M
Raty
Sally R
SR
Afifi
Sheriff
S
Martin
Donna
D
Zimmerman
Brian
B
Epps
Jerry L
JL
Rinehardt
Paige
P
Stock
M Christine
MC
Zell
Christopher
C
D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies