Training in adolescent health: how much have second-year residents had?

OBJECTIVE

To determine the level of training second-year family medicine residents have had in adolescent medicine.

DESIGN

Web-based survey.

SETTING

Canadian family medicine residency programs.

PARTICIPANTS

English-speaking second-year family medicine residents.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Residents' self-reported levels of training in adolescent health, specifically, the types of formal and informal education in adolescent health provided by family medicine residency programs. Residents' self-reported comfort in dealing with common health problems in adolescence was also examined.

RESULTS

Responses were received from 78 residents representing 11 different programs across Canada. About 38.5% of family medicine residents had attended lectures on adolescent health. Only 37.2% of residents felt comfortable with their knowledge of adolescent health. Respondents indicated that most of their education in adolescent health occurred during family medicine rotations. Only 24% of respondents supplemented their training with attendance at school-based or reproductive health clinics.

CONCLUSION

Learning how to deal effectively with teenagers should be an essential part of family medicine training, yet family medicine residents receive only a small amount of exposure to adolescent health issues in primary care settings. Few residents attend school-based or reproductive health clinics even though such activity is recommended by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. A more structured adolescent health experience in family medicine residency would help ensure that Canadian adolescents benefit from informed and experienced family physicians.