Creation of a Novel Longitudinal Pediatrics Resident Curricular Program Addressing the Medical and Social Needs of Children with Medical Complexity.

Abstract

To implement a newly created, longitudinal resident program for the comprehensive care of children with medical complexity (CMC) and to evaluate change in resident confidence in both medical and social domains. Using Kern's six-step method of curriculum development, we developed and implemented a curricular program at our institution for all pediatrics residents across an academic year from 2023 to 2024. Program evaluation used retrospective pre-surveys and post-surveys of pediatrics residents assessing overall confidence in completing tasks related to the care of CMC based on published entrustable professional activities. Initial needs assessment data showed that 69.7% of residents felt comfortable/very comfortable caring for CMC in the hospital. In the outpatient setting, >66.7% felt uncomfortable/very uncomfortable and 78.8% were overall uncomfortable. Retrospective presurveys and postsurveys showed improved resident confidence in all 14 assessed tasks with a mean change of 0.63 as measured using a five-point Likert scale, with a P value of <0.01 for all changes. A novel, integrated, longitudinal curricular program addressing medical and social aspects of CMC care grounded in adult learning theory and conceptual frameworks was associated with significant improvements in resident confidence.