A survey of brain injury medicine fellowship graduates 2014-2023: Perceived strengths and opportunities for training based upon current practice trends.

BACKGROUND

Brain injury medicine (BIM) is a medical subspecialty addressing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with brain injury. BIM fellowships have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) since 2014.

OBJECTIVE

To identify practice patterns of physiatrists who have completed an ACGME-accredited BIM fellowship and assess the training satisfaction and potential opportunities for enhancement of BIM fellowship training.

DESIGN

Online cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

A national cross-sectional survey of BIM physiatrists was designed in conjunction with the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

PARTICIPANTS

Physiatrists who had graduated from an ACGME-accredited BIM fellowship between 2014 and 2023.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Demographic information, current practice patterns, and levels of satisfaction (very unsatisfied to very satisfied) with fellowship training in areas of core competency.

RESULTS

The survey was completed by 61 BIM fellowship graduates. Fifty-one percent of respondents identified as male, and 46% reported practicing in the Northeast. Seventy-seven percent of respondents held teaching roles at a medical school, and 82% were in a clinical leadership role. Eighty-seven percent reported performing botulinum toxin injections in their current practice. Overall, respondents reported a high degree of satisfaction with fellowship training.

CONCLUSIONS

Survey respondents work predominantly in the Northeast, in both inpatient and outpatient environments, and are more likely to work in academic medical centers. Survey respondents commonly held clinical and academic leadership roles. Phenol/alcohol neurolysis, respiratory complications, pain management, and special brain injury populations were identified as potential areas for further fellowship development.