Self-perceived preparedness for practice among graduating physical medicine & rehabilitation residents

Abstract

Background: There is little research regarding the self-perceived preparedness of residents to enter independent practice after training. Given the vast breadth of physical medicine & rehabilitation (PM&R) and the increasingly complex and wide-ranging responsibilities and roles of physiatrists, this study is necessary to evaluate residents' perspectives of how programs are preparing them in the face of the changing practice environment. Objective: To identify how graduating PM&R residents perceived their training to prepare them for future practice. The researchers assessed perceived preparedness in six domains: (1) evaluation and management of conditions, (2) settings and responsibilities of practice, (3) familiarity with administrative processes, (4) physiatric-specific prescriptions, (5) performing procedures, and (6) interpretation of diagnostic studies. Design: Survey. Setting: Virtual. Participants: Graduating PM&R residents in their final year of training in the United States were invited to complete the survey. Of 415 graduating residents, 54 accessed the survey, and 40 (9.6%) fully completed questions relating to preparation by residency. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure: Self-perceived preparedness for practice among graduating residents across 70 subdomains of practice. Results: Mean preparedness was highest in the domain of physiatric prescription (3.45/5), and preparedness for administrative processes was significantly lower than all other domains (mean 2.25/5, p