PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ivy F. Oandasan
AU  - Douglas Archibald
AU  - Louise Authier
AU  - Kathrine Lawrence
AU  - Laura April McEwen
AU  - Maria Palacios
AU  - Marie Parkkari
AU  - Heidi Plant
AU  - Steve Slade
AU  - Shelley Ross
TI  - Giving curriculum planners an edge
DP  - 2015 Apr 01
TA  - Canadian Family Physician
PG  - e204--e210
VI  - 61
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/61/4/e204.short
4100  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/61/4/e204.full
SO  - Can Fam Physician2015 Apr 01; 61
AB  - 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. Design Pilot study using surveys. Setting Five Canadian residency programs. Participants A total of 454 first-year family medicine residents were surveyed. Main outcome measures 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. Conclusion 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.