Residents' clinical questions: how are they answered and are the answers helpful?
OBJECTIVE
To assess residents' clinical questions, where they get their answers, the utility of those answers, and if an evidence-based medicine (EBM) workshop improves the use of evidence-based electronic resources.


METHODS
Prospective observational cohort study.


METHODS
Urban family medicine teaching clinics in Edmonton, Alta, in 2007.


METHODS
First- and second-year family medicine residents training in the family medicine teaching units.


METHODS
An observer recorded clinical questions posed by residents in clinic, the resources used to answer these questions, and how residents thought the answers modified practice. Resources were categorized broadly as colleagues, electronic, or paper. Answer utility was ranked in decreasing order as large change, small change, confirmed, expanded knowledge, or no help. Use of resources was compared before and after an EBM workshop, and between residents under normal supervision and those in semi-independent clinics.


RESULTS
Thirty-eight residents from 5 sites were observed addressing 325 questions in 114 clinical half-day sessions (420 patients). Residents had 0.8 questions per patient and answered 83.4% of questions with 1 resource (range 1 to 6). Residents made 406 attempts to answer questions, using colleagues 65.5% of the time (93.6% were preceptors), electronic resources 20.7% of the time, and paper resources 13.8% of the time. Answers from colleagues were least likely to require secondary resources (F test, P < .001). The utility of answers from colleagues (F test, P = .002) was superior to that of answers from electronic resources, and this difference remained significantly higher in sensitivity analysis. The EBM workshop training did not influence electronic resource use (17.8% before and 15.1% after, Fisher-Freeman-Halton test, P = .18), but semi-independence from preceptors increased the use of electronic resources from 16.5% to 51.0% (Fisher-Freeman-Halton test, P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Residents have many questions during clinical practice. Preceptors were used more commonly than all other resources combined and were the most dependable resource for residents to obtain answers. Although an EBM workshop was not associated with increased use of electronic evidence-based resources, semi-independent work appeared to be.
University of Alberta, Family Medicine, 12230-106 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 3Z1. mgallan@ualberta.ca
G Michael
GM
Allan
Victoria
V
Ma
Sarah
S
Aaron
Ben
B
Vandermeer
Donna
D
Manca
Christina
C
Korownyk
D000416:Alberta; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies