survey of pediatrics resident knowledge of growth and development

ABSTRACT

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate pediatric residents' knowledge about the milestones of growth and development in children. Seventy-one pediatric residents from 3 main Children's Centers in Tehran were surveyed to evaluate their knowledge on growth and development of children. Included in the survey was based upon filling up a questionnaire containing questions about four different categories of development [motor, cognitive, speech and social interactions]. The scores that the residents got from the test were summed up and were compared together. 71 resident participants completed the questionnaire. The distribution of residents by year was 26 post graduate year 1 [PGY1], 26 PGY2, and 23 PGY3.The knowledge of 14 [19.7%] of the participants about child's development was ranked as "Less than expected", 47 [66.2%] as "Unacceptable", 10 [14.1%] as "Acceptable" and none [0%] as "Ideal", according to the total score they got from their correct answers to the questions. This study describes that most pediatric residents lack the acceptable knowledge on children's growth and development. It seems that their knowledge did not improve through their years of residency