Subject(s)
Medically Unexplained Symptoms , Sudden Infant Death/diagnosis , Sudden Infant Death/prevention & control , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Polysomnography , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Sleep Apnea Syndromes/diagnosis , Sleep Apnea Syndromes/prevention & control , Sudden Infant Death/classification , Sudden Infant Death/epidemiology , Terminology as TopicABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine the antibiotic prescribing practices of pediatric residents and assess how they acquire knowledge leading to prescribing behaviors. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional electronic survey of all pediatric residents at the Children's National Medical Center and Nicklaus Children's Hospital, assessing antibiotic prescribing patterns for common pediatric infections, use of antibiograms, and factors influencing antibiotic choice. RESULTS: Eighty-five surveys (45%) were returned complete and included in the analysis. Increased deviations from clinical guideline recommendations were observed for antibiotic treatments of sinusitis and community-acquired pneumonia as compared with otitis media and group A streptococcal pharyngitis. Only 57% of residents reported having used antibiograms. General pediatric inpatient attending physicians were identified as the most influential source for house staff antibiotic knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Results illustrate the need for better promotion and integration of clinical guidelines with antibiograms when developing antibiotic education programs for residents in training. In addition, pediatric hospitalists should play an active role in the implementation of these programs and can provide valuable insight into the development of educational programs in conjunction with graduate medical education divisions.
Subject(s)
Antimicrobial Stewardship/methods , Drug Prescriptions/standards , Internship and Residency , Pediatrics , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Cross-Sectional Studies , Drug Prescriptions/statistics & numerical data , Health Care Surveys , HumansABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the current state of child neurology education during pediatric residency provides adequate preparation for pediatric practice. A survey was sent to recent graduates from 3 pediatric residency programs to assess graduate experience, perceived level of competence, and desire for further education in child neurology. Responses from generalists versus subspecialists were compared. The response rate was 32%, half in general pediatric practice. Only 22% feel very confident in approaching patients with neurologic problems. This may represent the best-case scenario as graduates from these programs had required neurology experiences, whereas review of Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education-accredited residency curricula revealed that the majority of residencies do not. Pediatric neurologic problems are common, and pediatric residency graduates do encounter such problems in practice. The majority of pediatricians report some degree of confidence; however, some clear areas for improvement are apparent.
