The Effect of Elective Rotations on the Self-assessment Examination Results of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residents: Implications for Minimizing Educational Resource Disparities in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of the study were (1) to assess whether a knowledge disparity existed between physical medicine and rehabilitation residents from community hospitals versus those from medical centers, before the introduction of short-term elective training at the end of 2008 and (2), if such disparity existed, to determine whether 1-month short-term elective training was associated with minimizing such disparity, as reflected in the self-assessment examination scores.


METHODS
Self-assessment examination scores from 2007-2016 were analyzed in each of the following three topics: (a) cardiac rehabilitation, (b) pulmonary rehabilitation, and (c) orthotics. Student's t tests were used to identify score discrepancies between both groups.


RESULTS
(1) At baseline (2007-2008), trainees from community hospitals scored lower in all three topics (P < 0.05). (2) After the short-term elective training, follow-up comparisons showed no differences in either cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation for 2009-2016. Regarding orthotics, trainees from both groups showed no significant differences for 2009-2010 and 2011-2012. Interestingly, for 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, trainees from medical centers scored higher again, but only in orthotics.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) In 2007-2008, a knowledge disparity existed between physical medicine and rehabilitation residents from community hospitals and medical centers in Taiwan. (2) Short-term elective training was associated with minimizing such disparity from 2009-2016, especially in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.
From the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (I-NL, P-SW, T-GW, W-SC); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (HLL); and John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii (HLL).
I-Nan
IN
Lien
Pei-Shen
PS
Wu
Tyng-Guey
TG
Wang
Wen-Shiang
WS
Chen
Henry L
HL
Lew
D000328:Adult; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000193:education*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013624:Taiwan