Evaluation of trauma service orientation.
OBJECTIVE
Orientation of residents to clinical services may be criticized as cumbersome, dull, and simplytoo much information. With the mandated resident-hour restrictions, the question arose: Do residents perceive the orientation to our trauma service as worthwhile?


METHODS
Residents attend a standardized orientation lecture on the first day of the rotation. Three weeks later, an eight-item, five-point Likert-scale survey is distributed to assess the residents' perceptions of the value of the orientation. Responses to each item were examined.


RESULTS
Fifty-four (92%) of the residents completed the questionnaire between September 2005 and August 2006. Most indicated that orientation was helpful (85%), the Trauma Resuscitation DVD was informative (82%), the review of procedures was helpful (82%), and the instructor's knowledge was adequate (94%). Most (92%) disagreed with the statement that orientation should not be offered.


CONCLUSIONS
Careful attention to orientation content and format is important to the perception that the orientation is worthwhile.
Schott
Eric
E
Department of Traumatology and Emergency Medicine, University of Connecticut, Trauma Program, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, USA.
D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014193:Trauma Centers