Resident versus program director perceptions about PM&R research training

Abstract

A survey of all residents and residency program directors in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) was done to assess perspectives of residents and directors regarding research training, resources, mentorship, and encouragement available to residents. A response rate of 55% was obtained from 1188 resident mailings, and 83% of 77 program directors responded. A number of discrepancies in perceptions of residents v program directors responded. A number of discrepancies in perceptions of residents v program directors were identified. In general, residents perceived that they had less research support and training than directors felt their departments were offering. Only 24% of residents felt that they got adequate training in statistics, 40% for research design, and 26% for writing research papers. The corresponding numbers for residency program directors were 47%, 73%, and 61%. There were similar discrepancies in the perception of the quality of research training. On a 1 to 5 scale, residents registered a mean score of 2.8 (SD 1.0) to the question of how qualified their faculty was to teach principles of research. Program directors' mean response was 3.2 (SD 1.0). Residents were also often not aware of resources available for research in their departments. Only 19% of residents knew of access to a research coordinator/grant writer, 36% for statistical support, and 67% for library assistance. The corresponding numbers for program directors were 31%, 69%, and 97%. Additional results of the survey are summarized, and suggestions for further study to improve the resident research training experience are given.