Instruction in teaching and teaching opportunities for residents in US dermatology programs: Results of a national survey.
BACKGROUND
Dermatology residents routinely teach junior co-residents and medical students. Despite the importance of teaching skills for a successful academic career, no formal teaching instruction programs for dermatology residents have been described to our knowledge, and the extent of teaching opportunities for dermatology residents is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to describe the range of teaching opportunities and instruction available to dermatology residents and to assess the need for additional teaching training from the perspective of dermatology residency program directors nationwide.


METHODS
A questionnaire was administered to 113 US dermatology residency program directors or their designees. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze questionnaire item responses.


RESULTS
The response rate was 55% (62/113). All program directors reported that their residents teach; 59% (33/56) reported offering trainees teaching instruction; 11% (7/62) of programs offered a short-term series of formal sessions on teaching; and 7% (4/62) offered ongoing, longitudinal training. Most program directors (74%, 40/54) believed that their residents would benefit from more teaching instruction.


CONCLUSIONS
Response rate and responder bias are potential limitations.


CONCLUSIONS
Dermatology residents teach in a broad range of settings, over half receive some teaching instruction, and most dermatology residency program directors perceive a need for additional training for residents as teachers.
Department of Dermatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: sburgin@bidmc.harvard.edu.
Susan
S
Burgin
Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
Gelareh
G
Homayounfar
Shapiro Institute for Education and Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
Lori R
LR
Newman
Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Shapiro Institute for Education and Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
Amy
A
Sullivan
D003880:Dermatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States
dermatology residency training; medical education; resident-as-teacher program