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. 2023 Dec 1;98(12):1434-1442.
doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005443. Epub 2023 Aug 30.

Upholding Our PROMISE: Underrepresented in Medicine Pediatric Residents' Perspectives on Interventions to Promote Belonging

Lahia Yemane, Oriaku Kas-Osoka, Audrea Burns, Rebecca Blankenburg, Laura Kester Prakash, Patricia Poitevien, Alan Schwartz, Candice Taylor Lucas, Jyothi Marbin

Upholding Our PROMISE: Underrepresented in Medicine Pediatric Residents' Perspectives on Interventions to Promote Belonging

Lahia Yemane et al. Acad Med. .

Abstract

Purpose: Underrepresented in medicine (UIM) residents experience challenges during training that threaten their sense of belonging in medicine; therefore, residency programs should intentionally implement interventions to promote belonging. This study explored UIM pediatric residents' perspectives on current residency program measures designed to achieve this goal.

Method: The authors conducted a secondary qualitative analysis as part of a national cross-sectional study, PROmoting Med-ed Insight into Supportive Environments (PROMISE), which explored pediatric residents' experiences and perspectives during training in relation to their self-identities. A 23-item web-based survey was distributed through the Association of Pediatric Program Directors Longitudinal Educational Research Assessment Network from October 2020 to January 2021. Participants provided free-text responses to the question "What are current measures that promote a sense of belonging for the UIM community in your training program?" The authors used conventional content analysis to code and identify themes in responses from UIM participants.

Results: Of the 1,748 residents invited to participate, 931 (53%) residents from 29 programs completed the survey, with 167 (18%) identifying as UIM. Of the 167 UIM residents, 74 (44%) residents from 22 programs responded to the free-text question. The authors coded more than 140 unique free-text responses and identified 7 major themes: (1) critical mass of UIM residents; (2) focused recruitment of UIM residents; (3) social support, including opportunities to build community among UIM residents; (4) mentorship; (5) caring and responsive leadership; (6) education on health disparities, diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism; and (7) opportunities to serve, including giving back to the local community and near-peer mentorship of UIM premedical and medical students.

Conclusions: This is the first national study to describe UIM pediatric residents' perspectives on interventions that promote a sense of belonging. Programs should consider implementing these interventions to foster inclusion and belonging among UIM trainees.

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