Multi-institutional survey of graduates of pediatric anesthesia fellowship: assessment of training and current professional activities

Abstract

We surveyed all the graduates of four fellowship programs in pediatric anesthesia between 1985 and 1993 to assess their current professional activities, their evaluation of fellowship training, and their opinions on future directions of such training. One-hundred ninety-one (62%) of the graduates responded. Nearly all of the respondents had sought fellowship training for pediatric anesthesia and thought that the training was worthwhile. At the time of the survey, 40% worked in a children's hospital, 72% had university or affiliate positions, and 54% had a practice that was > 50% pediatric. Those with > or = 12 mo fellowship and/or board certification in pediatrics were the most likely to have a pediatric-dedicated practice. Seventy percent of the respondents thought that fellowship training should be for 12 mo, and the proportion of respondents who recommended inclusion of training in pain management and clinical research was greater than the number who had actually received such training. Fifty-eight percent of respondents supported restriction of fellowship positions in the future, but 83% did not support a mandatory 2-yr fellowship with research training. We conclude that fellowships in pediatric anesthesia seem to be successful in providing training that is not only satisfying to the trainees, but that is also followed by active involvement in the care of children and in the training of residents and fellows in anesthesia. Additional information should be gathered to assess the impact of this training on pediatric care, to formulate a standardized curriculum, and to justify support for such training in the future.

Implications: We surveyed graduates of four fellowship programs in pediatric anesthesia (1985-1993) to assess current professional activities, fellowship training, and future directions of such training. Fellowships in pediatric anesthesia seem to provide training that is satisfying to trainees and that is followed by active involvement in the care of children.