Perceptions of Internal Medicine–Pediatrics Residents About Autonomy During Residency

Abstract

Abstract Background The development of autonomy is a key component of residency training. Although studies have examined levels of graduated autonomy within specialties, they have not, to our knowledge, examined how residents' perceptions of autonomy differ among specialties. Objective We surveyed residents in internal medicine–pediatrics programs to determine their perceptions of the autonomy they experienced when they were serving on internal medicine (IM) and pediatrics inpatient rotations. Methods In 2012, we administered a 24-item online survey to residents in 36 internal medicine–pediatrics programs. Results Of 698 eligible residents, 143 (20.5%) participated. Participants were distributed equally among all 4 postgraduate years and between IM and pediatrics rotations. Participants were more likely to agree they experienced an appropriate level of autonomy when they were on IM rotations than when they were on pediatrics rotations (97.9% versus 34.3%, P < .001), were more likely to report experiencing...