A survey of pediatricians in private practices who participated in community-based clerkships: an intellectual, inspirational and professional growth experience.
OBJECTIVE
To examine how pediatricians in private practices are affected by the process of training medical students in their clinics as part of a community-based clerkship program.


METHODS
In 2007, a questionnaire was sent to 35 pediatricians who had provided private clinical settings for clerkship training for the previous 3 years. The questionnaire covered a number of points, including the pediatricians' motivation to join and/or reasons to quit the program; if there were changes seen in their stress levels while supervising students; changes in their treatment procedures or attitudes because of the students' presence; responses of patients and/or their guardians in regard to have medical students treating them, and whether the doctors were inspired to grow professionally by participating in the program.


RESULTS
Of the 35 pediatricians, 31 (88.5%) responded. Eighteen respondents (58%) selected 'responsibility to cooperate with medical school' as a reason to participate. Fifteen physicians (48.3%) answered that the clerkship program had a positive impact on their treatment procedures and their attitude towards patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the pediatricians' responses, the community-based clerkship program may instill intellectual inspiration and promote professional growth among the pediatricians in private practices, resulting in potentially better treatment for patients.
Kim
Young Jon
YJ
Department of Medical Education, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
Kim
Sun Jun
SJ
Joo
Chan Uhng
CU
Kim
Jung Soo
JS
Kim
Jung Soo
JS
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching