title: Performance outcomes in anesthesiology residents completing categorical (anesthesia) or advanced (nonspecific) internship training.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: T Dirk
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Younker
authors.forename: Lydia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Conlay
authors.forename: Nancy S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Searle
authors.forename: Myrna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Sally R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Raty
authors.forename: Sheriff
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afifi
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Jerry L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Epps
authors.forename: Paige
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rinehardt
authors.forename: M Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zell
mesh_terms: 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