Let's Go Shopping: A Tool for Pediatric Resident Education

Abstract

Residency training is designed to allow trainees to develop the clinical skills and the knowledge base necessary to practice their specialty independently.1 Most pediatric residency programs have been hospital-based, usually in tertiary care institutions. Even required primary care continuity experiences are often based within urban hospital clinics. As a result, pediatric residency graduates have good preparation to care for critically ill children or children with special needs, but may be less prepared to care for generally healthy children or to answer the practical questions that will comprise the bulk of a primary care pediatrician's practice. In fact, many pediatric residents complete training without exposure to many of the practical aspects of primary care and community pediatrics.2–4 It is difficult to teach residents many key aspects of community and ambulatory pediatrics effectively. Certain issues and skills require active, hands-on involvement. Participatory teaching formats have equal or more efficacy than traditional didactic lectures in many instances and are well-received by the learners.5–7 The participatory format particularly enhances practical skill and knowledge acquisition. There are many practical aspects of primary care and community pediatrics that cannot be taught in a lecture and might be more appropriately taught through hands-on involvement. Many of these involve issues dealt with regularly by parents, such as administering unpleasant tasting medication. Physicians may be unaware that such an issue can create an obstacle for parents. Another issue for parents, especially new or inexperienced parents, relates to the purchase of items needed for routine care of healthy infants (such as car seats and formulas) or items to help with minor acute illness (such as thermometers and humidifiers). Parents who receive little guidance in item selection can find this a perplexing and frustrating experience. Families who are financially disadvantaged or who live in an underserved …