title: Giving curriculum planners an edge: using entrance surveys to design family medicine education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To pilot a survey of family medicine residents entering residency, describing their exposure to family medicine and their perspectives related to their future intentions to practise family medicine, in order to inform curriculum planners; and to test the methodology, feasibility, and utility of delivering a longitudinal survey to multiple residency programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot study using surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five Canadian residency programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 454 first-year family medicine residents were surveyed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Residents' previous exposure to family medicine, perspectives on family medicine, and future practice intentions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 70% of first-year residents surveyed responded (n = 317). Although only 5 residency programs participated, respondents included graduates from each of the medical schools in Canada, as well as international medical graduates. Among respondents, 92% felt positive or strongly positive about their choice to be family physicians. Most (73%) indicated they had strong or very strong exposure to family medicine in medical school, yet more than 40% had no or minimal exposure to key clinical domains of family medicine like palliative care, home care, and care of underserved groups. Similar responses were found about residents' lack of intention to practise in these domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to clinical domains in family medicine could influence future practice intentions. Surveys at entrance to residency can help medical school and family medicine residency planners consider important learning experiences to include in training.
authors.forename: Ivy F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Oandasan
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Archibald
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Authier
authors.forename: Kathrine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Laura April
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: McEwen
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parkkari
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Plant
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Slade
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D002321:Career Choice; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects