The Effect of a 2-Week Pre-clerkship Residency Exploration Program on Specialty Interest and Understanding of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Emily Sheppard, Michael Smyth, Todd Dow and 2 others
PMID 33543064WHAT IT FOUND
Medical students’ overall interest in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation did not change after a two-week exploration program, but their understanding of physiatrists’ daily roles and comfort with joint injections increased.
Key findings
01Overall interest in PMR did not significantly change during the program, although those reporting high interest showed a slight downward trend.
02Understanding of the daily roles and responsibilities of physiatrists increased significantly among participants.
03Comfort with performing knee and shoulder joint injections during upcoming clerkship rotations increased significantly.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The sample was small, and the survey analysed 37 students, so results may be unstable. PMR exposure was not given to all participants, and the amount of exposure varied because of departmental constraints. Students applied voluntarily for a summer program, so participants may already have been interested in the specialties included. The program combined many specialty exposures, so any change cannot be attributed only to PMR. Outcomes were self-reported on Likert scales about interest, understanding, and comfort; they were not patient outcomes or measured clinical competence. The study compared entrance and exit surveys rather than comparing participants with a separate control group.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that this program improves patient care or that therapists should adopt it. It measured medical students’ self-reported interest, understanding, and comfort, not clinical outcomes or therapist practice.