Perspectives on Canadian core fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia: a survey of graduate fellows

• Published in: Canadian journal of anesthesia 2015-10, Vol.62 (10), p.1071-1081
• Main Authors: O’Leary, James D., Crawford, Mark W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia; Anesthesia - standards; Anesthesiology; Anesthesiology - education; Anesthesiology - standards; Attitude of Health Personnel; Canada; Cardiology; Clinical Competence; Critical Care Medicine; Fellowships and Scholarships; Female; Humans; Intensive; Male; Medical personnel; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pain Medicine; Pediatrics; Pediatrics - education; Pediatrics - standards; Physicians - standards; Physicians - statistics & numerical data; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Reports of Original Investigations; Scholarships & fellowships; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0832-610X; 1496-8975
• DOI: 10.1007/s12630-015-0427-7

Background Educators in anesthesia have an obligation to ensure that fellowship programs are training anesthesiologists to meet the highest standards of performance in clinical and academic practice. The objective of this survey was to characterize the perspectives of graduates of Canadian core fellowship programs in pediatric anesthesia (during a ten-year period starting in 2003) on the adequacies and inadequacies of fellowship training. Methods We conducted an electronic survey of graduates from eight departments of pediatric anesthesia in Canada who completed one-year core fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia from 2003 to 2013. A novel survey design was implemented, and the content and structure of the design were tested before distribution. Data were collected on respondents’ demographics, details of training and practice settings, perceived self-efficacy in subspecialty practices, research experience, and perspectives on one-year core fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia. Descriptive statistics and 95% confidence intervals were determined. Results The survey was sent to 132 anesthesiologists who completed core fellowship training in pediatric anesthesia in Canada. Sixty-five (49%) completed and eligible surveys were received. Most of the anesthesiologists surveyed perceived that 12 months of core fellowship training are sufficient to acquire the knowledge and critical skills needed to practice pediatric anesthesia. Subspecialty areas most frequently perceived to require improved training included pediatric cardiac anesthesia, chronic pain medicine, and regional anesthesia. Conclusions This survey reports perceived deficiencies in domains of pediatric anesthesia fellowship training. These findings should help guide the future development of core and advanced fellowship training programs in pediatric anesthesia.