The transition to Pediatric Hospital Medicine fellowship: A national survey-based needs assessment

BACKGROUND

Each year, the number of fellows entering Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) fellowship is increasing. Residency curricula do not always prepare trainees for all aspects of PHM as a specialty and gaps often exist in the transition to fellowship.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the preparedness of PHM fellows for clinical, teaching, and scholarship tasks at the start of fellowship and to identify opportunities for residency and fellowship program development.

DESIGN

Quantitative survey.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Current and recently graduated PHM fellows (matriculation years 2019-2022).

METHODS

We conducted a national cross-sectional survey from July 2022 to February 2023. We designed survey questions based on PHM fellowship core competencies.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES

We asked participants to rate preparedness for tasks on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = very unprepared, 5 = very prepared). We analyzed numerical data using descriptive and comparative statistics and free-response data using inductive content analysis.

RESULTS

We received 223 responses to our survey (response rate 74%). Of the respondents, 25% reported no PHM-specific orientation at their program (n = 55). Respondents reported lower median preparedness for research (3, interquartile range [IQR] [2,4]) and teaching tasks (4, IQR [4,4]) compared to clinical tasks (4, IQR [4,5]) at the start of fellowship (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). Content analysis revealed most fellows wished they had received more training around scholarship at the start of fellowship.

CONCLUSIONS

Many PHM fellows enter fellowship feeling inadequately prepared, particularly in scholarship and teaching. Our findings suggest that residency and fellowship programs need to develop more robust curricula to better prepare trainees for successful PHM fellowship. This national survey-based needs assessment should serve as a guide for further program development.

If You Build It, Will They Come? An Analysis of Candidate Attitudes Toward A New Residency Program

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Background: To address looming healthcare workforce shortages, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has recommended a substantial increase in residency positions. However, new residency programs face unique recruitment challenges. Objective: To identify new program characteristics and recruitment practices that most influence candidate-ranking decisions. Methods: In a post-match survey, applicants who interviewed during the first two recruitment seasons of a new program were asked to rate program characteristics and recruitment techniques regarding the effects they had on ranking decisions, and to describe the most attractive and concerning features. Somers' D directional coefficients were calculated to determine the correlation between applicants' ranking of the program and ranking of survey items. Qualitative responses were analyzed as word clouds. Results: 163/349 surveys were returned (47%). The strongest correlating items included the opportunities to work closely with faculty, to help shape a new program, and to be one of the first graduates. Influential recruitment practices included program communications and website vividness. Concerns included lack of senior residents, fear of unforeseen difficulties, and no evidence of outcomes. Conclusion: New programs have unique features that influence candidates' ranking decisions. Recruitment practices should be designed to identify candidates who embrace the unique opportunities of a new program.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in children and neonates: A 10 year retrospective review

Rates of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) are published performance indicators for hospital-acquired infection. In adults SAB is often associated with central venous catheters (CVC), mortality is high and up to 40% are MRSA. However, there is little data on SAB in neonates and children in the UK.

AIM

To describe the presentation, management and outcome of SAB on a neonatal and paediatric unit in a District General Hospital (DGH) over a 10 year period.

METHOD

Case notes of children<16 years with SAB between May 1993 and April 2003 were studied. SAB which developed >48 h after admission was defined as hospital-acquired. Contamination was probable if the clinical picture was unsupportive of infection, or if repeat culture was negative and no treatment was given.

RESULTS

Neonatal unit: Thirty-three of 40 episodes were reviewed (median gestation 32 weeks, median age 21 days). Three of 33 (9%) were contaminants. All SAB were hospital acquired. Twenty-six of 30 (87%) had non-specific presentation, but 15 developed a focus of infection (skin 12, chest 3). Seventeen (57%) infants had CVCs. Eight (27%) infants had MRSA bacteraemia, seven with CVCs. Three (10%) infants died. Paediatric unit: Sixty-four of 70 episodes were reviewed (median age 2 years). Thirteen of 64 (20%) were contaminants. Ten of 51 (20%) were hospital acquired. Presentations were with skin infection 18, bone/joint infection 13, non-specific 13, respiratory 8. Only two had MRSA, one with CVC. One (2%) child died, from an unrelated cause.

CONCLUSION

SAB on a paediatric unit shows a very different pattern compared to SAB in adults. The pattern on a neonatal unit is more similar to that in adults. Both children and neonates have a lower mortality and a lower incidence of MRSA, whilst paediatric SAB has a weaker association with CVC. The proportion of SAB which is hospital acquired is low on a paediatric unit, making SAB an unreliable performance indicator. Most SA in blood cultures are not due to contamination. Prospective studies are needed to determine appropriate investigation and treatment.

Dancing eyes

A7-month-old girl was referred by her GP with a 6-hour history of ‘jittery eyes’. During the preceding day she had been ‘grizzly’ and non-specifically unwell. Her mother reported that on the day of admission she had had rigors and abnormal eye movements. The child had no significant past medical history. There was a family history of epilepsy.

Paediatric review noted a miserable child with an inflamed right tympanic membrane and sudden eye movements up and to the right. An electroencephalogram was performed which was normal and a provisional diagnosis was made of right-sided otitis media with associated nystagmus resulting from putative labyrinthine involvement. The child was started on a course of amoxycillin and admitted. After 24 hours her condition had improved and she was discharged, pending an ophthalmology review 4 days later.

At the ophthalmology review it was noted that although the child appeared generally well, she was distressed by recurrent sudden conjugate dextro-elevatory eye movements associated with simultaneous backward jerks of the head. She was ataxic but the examination was otherwise normal. The opinion of a paediatric ophthalmologist was sought, the diagnosis of opsoclonus was made and further investigation arranged.

Chest radiography revealed bilateral paravertebral mass in the lower thoracic region (Figure 1). Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed this and showed anterior extension encircling the aorta and displacing the inferior vena cava (Figure 2). Considerable enhancement with gadolinium was noted. No involvement of liver, spleen or cranium was seen. A bone scan and marrow trephine was normal. An MIBG (metaiodobenzyl guanidine) scan showed increased uptake in the lower thoracic right paraspinal area. Tumour biopsy revealed rosettes of small round cells consistent with neuroblastoma.

The diagnosis was therefore of thoraco-abdominal neuroblastoma stage 3. This was not resectable and chemotherapy was started as per the European Infant Neuroblastoma Protocol. She made rapid improvement with radiographic reduction in tumour size and dramatic improvement in her neurological features.

Haemorrhage into an arachnoid cyst: a serious complication of minor head trauma

Arachnoid cysts are infra-arachnoidal cerebrospinal fluid collections that are usually asymptomatic. However, they can become acutely symptomatic because of haemorrhage and cyst enlargement, which may result from minor head trauma. The range of symptoms is wide and many are "soft" signs. Diagnosis is important as cysts causing mass effect require surgery. A case is reported of a child presenting with localised headaches after minor head trauma. Computed tomography demonstrated an arachnoid cyst with evidence of haemorrhage, which required surgical intervention. Other cases of arachnoid cyst presenting to our hospital or reported in the literature are reviewed with respect to presenting symptoms and signs. Localised headaches, behavioural or cognitive changes and ataxia are more commonly associated with this disorder than nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances or seizures. This range of symptomatology following minor head trauma may warrant computed tomography when other criteria for this investigation are not met.