Preimplementation predictors of website use: preliminary findings from the SCORE Portal Pilot Study

• Published in: The American journal of surgery 2011, Vol.201 (1), p.7-15
• Main Authors: Schmitz, Connie C., Ph.D, Risucci, Donald, Ph.D, Plass, Jan, Ph.D, Jones, Andrew, Ph.D, DaRosa, Debra A., Ph.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accreditation; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Competence; Core curriculum; Curriculum; Data Collection; Education, Medical, Graduate - standards; Female; General aspects; General Surgery - education; General Surgery - standards; Health education; Health participants; Humans; Internet; Internship and Residency; Learning; Male; Medical residencies; Medical sciences; Motivation; Online instruction; Onsite; Pilot Projects; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Resident education; Self study; Surgery; Test Taking Skills; Thoracic surgery; Web sites; Web-based learning
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2010.05.011

Background In 2008, the Surgical Council on Resident Education selected 33 residency programs to pilot its General Surgery Resident Curriculum Website Portal. The portal aims to reduce program variability in curricula, align teaching and learning with essential content, and improve resident study and performance. Methods Two online surveys were sent to all program directors and their residents before releasing the portal. Data from 32 programs and 899 residents (84%) were analyzed to determine the extent to which preimplementation characteristics supported the portal's rationale and illuminated barriers to its use and impact on learning. Results The need for curriculum content and access to online texts varied markedly across programs. Residents had easy onsite access to the Internet and used it heavily for immediate purposes. Fewer residents used the Web for planned activities and proactive study. On average, residents reported studying an hour or less a day. Conclusions The portal appears to serve curricular resource needs and may better direct resident study. Programs are advised to consciously integrate the SCORE curriculum and portal into residency training and faculty development.