Design and Evaluation of a Pediatric Resident Health Care Transition Curriculum

MedEdPORTAL. 2022 Apr 1:18:11239. doi: 10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11239. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Introduction: In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics developed a consensus statement urging physicians who provide care to youth with special health care needs to acquire the knowledge and skills to facilitate well-timed transitions to adult-oriented care. However, a minority of these youth receive the services necessary to make appropriate transitions. Two potential barriers to supporting well-planned transitions are minimal provider training and gaps in medical records.

Methods: We designed an adaptable health care transition (HCT) curriculum combinings asynchronous didactic modules and a synchronous portable medical summary (PMS) critique exercise to improve resident knowledge, skills, and behavior. Residents completed pre- and posttests to assess knowledge prior to and after viewing animated video didactic modules. Residents attempted to create a PMS, received feedback and instruction on how to create a well-written PMS, and then reattempted this activity. Residents evaluated both the didactic modules and the PMS critique exercise following delivery of the curriculum.

Results: Over 21 months, 20 pediatric residents and hospital medicine fellows completed the curriculum during an elective complex care block rotation. Pre- and posttests revealed statistically significant (p < .001) improvement in knowledge. Learners included an average of 46% of 18 recommended PMS elements before and 98% of elements after the PMS critique exercise (p < .001). Evaluations demonstrated overwhelmingly positive learner responses.

Discussion: Our adaptable HCT curriculum improves pediatric residents' knowledge, skills, and behavior in transition processes and addresses a significant gap in pediatric graduate medical education.

Keywords: Children With Medical Complexity; Health Care Transition; Pediatrics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Curriculum
  • Humans
  • Internship and Residency*
  • Patient Transfer
  • Pediatrics*
  • Transition to Adult Care*
  • United States