Implementation of a PDA based program to quantify urology resident in-training experience.

INTRODUCTION

There currently is no simple and reliable mechanism for Residency program directors to assess how well their trainees are being exposed to all spheres of their specialty. We report on the use of hand-held personal digital assistants (PDA's) to document all clinical and academic activities of urology residents at one academic institution.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Software was developed to create customized pick lists allowing residents to record all activities on their individual PDA's. Categories included Adult Ambulatory, Pediatric Ambulatory, Adult operative, Pediatric operative, and Academic. Activities were subcategorized into detailed pick lists and time-tracking fields. Residents synchronized with a central database on a standalone hotsync server.

RESULTS

In the first 8 months, 21 178 resident-hours and 5333 activities were recorded. Preliminary observations can be made regarding how residents spend the majority of their time: 28% operative, 20% self-study, 19% ward work, 10% Academics, 6% ER consultations, 5% clinic, and 4% inpatient consultations. The most common adult diagnoses encountered while attending to clinic, ward, or ER consultations were lower urinary tract symptoms, urolithiasis and hematuria. Similarly for Pediatrics: neurogenic bladder, antenatal hydronephrosis, infection, and hypospadias were most often reported. Residents reported 5,333 activities, relating to the following spheres of Urology: academics (23%), endourology (18%), oncology (15%), lower urinary tract symptoms (10%), congenital anomalies (5%), urolithiasis (5%), reconstruction (5%), and infection (3%).

CONCLUSIONS

This tool provides an objective assessment of resident experience as it relates to selection of rotations, and for addressing curriculum weaknesses. It is applicable at a national level for the study of regional differences in training experience, and trends in graduate Urological education. With minimal effort it could be modified for application to other specialty training programs.