35. A SCOPING REVIEW ON RESIDENT POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION BOOT CAMPS

Abstract

Background Studies have shown that brief learning experiences, or boot camps, may effectively improve residents to function at a basic level and improve confidence in early postgraduate training and are much more prominently published in the procedural specialties. In those studies, investigators have primarily focused on evaluating whether the boot camp improved clinical skills, knowledge, or confidence levels however, this focus on a survey evaluation methodology, limits the application of these findings in patient care outcomes. Therefore, we sought to assess differences in the setting, size, length, specialty and Kirkpatrick level of evaluation used in boot camps. Methods In consultation with a librarian, we conducted a scoping review on postgraduate boot camps published from 2008 to 2019. Inclusion criteria included boot camps focused on residents and in English language. Exclusion criteria included manuscripts describing boot camps for medical students, fellows, attending faculty, or interdisciplinary health care professionals. Investigators divided the articles equally. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results 62/136 articles met criteria for inclusion. 44/62 (70.9%) occurred at a single site. The mean number of participants was 44.5 and the mean length of boot camp was 8.4 days (median = 3 days). Only one published article assessed pediatric residents (see Table 1 frequency of specialty). The highest level of Kirkpatricks level of evaluation that was assessed is as followed: Reaction, 15/62 (24.2%); Learning, 25/62 (40.3%); Behavior, 22/62 (35.5%); Results, 0/62. Conclusion Boot camps continue to primarily be published in procedural specialties, with only one article assessing pediatric residents. Also, investigators continue to report at Kirkpatrick evaluation levels of reaction, learning and behavior while never reporting at the level of results, or actual patient care outcomes. Our data stresses the importance of pediatric investigators to conduct, evaluate, and publish boot camps while striving to design these experiences to assess whether patient care is ultimately improved.