Saysana Michele, Downs Stephen M
Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2012 Feb;51(2):134-9. doi: 10.1177/0009922811417289. Epub 2011 Aug 25.
Well child care is taught with individual visits in pediatric residency. Teaching residents how to deliver well child care efficiently is critical. Group well child care brings multiple families together for visits. The authors piloted group visits in pediatric residency clinic.
The authors conducted group visits for 1- to 12-month old children. Seven families completed the group visits and were surveyed. Nine residents (intervention group) conducted group visits. Eighteen months after implementation, the intervention and control groups in the same clinic surveyed.
All families recommended group visits. The intervention group residents reported significantly more direct observations (P < .05). Trends toward improvement of teaching and role modeling for the intervention group were also observed.
The authors' continuity clinic had success implementing group visits, and families were recommended the visits. Group visits offer a natural environment to observe residents while exposing them to another way to deliver well child care.