Abstract
Background
There is little research regarding the self‐perceived preparedness of residents to enter independent practice after training. Given the vast breadth of physical medicine & rehabilitation (PM&R) and the increasingly complex and wide‐ranging responsibilities and roles of physiatrists, this study is necessary to evaluate residents' perspectives of how programs are preparing them in the face of the changing practice environment.
Objective
To identify how graduating PM&R residents perceived their training to prepare them for future practice. The researchers assessed perceived preparedness in six domains: (1) evaluation and management of conditions, (2) settings and responsibilities of practice, (3) familiarity with administrative processes, (4) physiatric‐specific prescriptions, (5) performing procedures, and (6) interpretation of diagnostic studies.
Design
Survey.
Setting
Virtual.
Participants
Graduating PM&R residents in their final year of training in the United States were invited to complete the survey. Of 415 graduating residents, 54 accessed the survey, and 40 (9.6%) fully completed questions relating to preparation by residency.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure
Self‐perceived preparedness for practice among graduating residents across 70 subdomains of practice.
Results
Mean preparedness was highest in the domain of physiatric prescription (3.45/5), and preparedness for administrative processes was significantly lower than all other domains (mean 2.25/5, p < .001). Across subdomains, the highest preparedness was in performing electromyography (4.48/5). Medical skills rated less than 2.50/5 included interpreting urodynamics (1.93/5), performing osteopathic manipulative therapy (1.57/5), and performing unguided peripheral nerve injections (2.25/5).
Conclusions
Ultimately, residency programs should increase administrative training and identify internal strengths and weaknesses by polling their residents.