A survey of 195 pediatric residency
directors in the United States and Puerto
Rico was conducted in the spring of 2004
to assess the status of pediatric rheumatology
training in general pediatric residency
programs. Specific objectives were:
- To characterize the availability of
pediatric rheumatology training in general
pediatrics residency,
- To explore the relationship between
the characteristics of pediatric rheumatology
training in general pediatrics residency
and the presence of pediatric rheumatologists
at the training institution, and
- To describe pediatric residency directors’
assessment of the adequacy of pediatric
rheumatology supply locally and statewide.
A new survey instrument was developed
to reach these objectives. One pediatric
rheumatologist and one pediatric residency
director pilot tested the survey; the
survey was then revised based upon their
comments. An 11-item survey resulted
that included questions about 1) program
size and characteristics, 2) pediatric
rheumatology staffing, 3) resident exposure
to clinical pediatric rheumatology, 4)
perception of the adequacy of the pediatric
rheumatology supply locally and statewide,
and 5) recent attempts made by affiliated
hospitals and/or academic medical centers
to hire a pediatric rheumatologist. The
Institutional Review Board at the UNC
School of Public Health approved the survey.
Respondents were initially contacted
by an e-mail message that explained the
study and provided a URL link to the Web-based
version of the survey. In addition to
the initial e-mail, 3 follow-up messages
were sent every 7 to 10 days to non-responders;
a paper version of the survey was sent
to all non-responders approximately one
month after the initial e-mail message.
The initial screen of the Web-based survey
described the study in detail and asked
respondents to formally consent to the
study. The mail-based survey included
a cover letter, consent letter, and stamped,
addressed return envelope; a returned
mail survey served as consent. After
completing the survey by email, each respondent
was sent an electronic gift code worth
$10 to use at Barnes & Noble’s Internet
store.
Responding programs were tracked using
the Web site to allow reminder e-mail
messages to be generated; the mail survey
was sent to non-responders only. This
tracking system allowed the use of incentives
to responding directors. In the data
cleaning and analysis stage all program
director and residency program identifiers
were removed; consequently, programs remained
anonymous in the analysis phase.
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