title: Quality Improvement in Otolaryngology Residency: Survey of Program Directors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Clinical Learning Environment Review focuses on the responsibility of the sponsoring institution for quality and patient safety. Very little information is known regarding the status of quality improvement (QI) education during otolaryngology training. The purpose of this survey is to evaluate the extent of resident and faculty participation in QI and identify opportunities for both resident curriculum and faculty development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey
  
  
  METHODS
  A 15-item survey was distributed to all 106 otolaryngology program directors. The survey was developed after an informal review of the literature regarding education in QI and patient safety. Questions were directed at the format and content of the QI curriculum, as well as barriers to implementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a 39% response rate. Ninety percent of responding program directors considered education in QI important or very important to a resident's future success. Only 23% of responding programs contained an educational curriculum in QI, and only 33% monitored residents' individual outcome measures. Barriers to implementation of a QI program included inadequate number of faculty with expertise in QI (75%) and competing resident educational demands (90%). Every program director considered morbidity and mortality conferences as an integral component in QI education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Program directors recognize the importance of QI in otolaryngology practice. Unfortunately, this survey identifies a distinct lack of resources in support of these educational goals. The results highlight the need to generate a comprehensive and stepwise approach to QI for faculty development and resident instruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, Ft Sam Houston, Texas, USA DrSarahNBowe@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sarah N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Bowe
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D058996:Quality Improvement
keywords: curriculum; education; otolaryngology; patient safety; program directors; quality; quality improvement; residency; surgery