Current Procedural Practices of Family Medicine Teaching Physicians.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Proficiency in procedural care achieved during residency is a major driver of family physician scope of practice. To date, no inventory exists of the advanced procedures and clinical skills performed by teaching family physicians. This study comprises the first such survey and assesses the attitude of respondents toward the importance of family physicians performing procedures. METHODS: We sent a clinical skills inventory to a convenience sample of teaching family physicians employed at 18 medical school-affiliated, community, and military residency programs across the United States. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 46% (N=337). Respondents performed a median of 12 advanced procedures and clinical skills (IQR: 8-18). Endorsed procedures ranged from skin biopsy (n=316, 93.8%) and joint injection (n=279, 82.8%) to colonoscopy (n=21, 6.2%) and cesarean delivery (n=23, 6.8%), and reported skills ranged from medication-assisted treatment (n=181, 53.7%) to highly active antiretrovial therapy (n=35, 10.4%). Gender and career stage were associated with statistically significant differences in endorsement of specific procedures. For example, fracture management was more likely to be performed by late- versus early-career faculty (54.1% vs 24.2%, P<.001) and by male versus female respondents (54.9% vs 24.2%, P<.001). Most respondents (84.3%) agreed that future family physicians should learn procedures and advanced clinical skills. CONCLUSIONS: Family medicine teaching faculty perform a wide array of procedures and advanced skills. Apparent differences by career stage and gender identity in the performance of some of the procedural and skill areas may portend a shift in the procedural training of future family physicians.

EVALUATION OF IMPACT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY ROTATION ON FAMILY MEDICINE PRACTICE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: A MULTICENTER STUDY.

Introduction: Globally, 36 million people are blind and 217 million people have moderate or severe distance vision impairment. Eighty-nine percent of vision-impaired people live in low and middle-income countries. To prevent progression to blindness, there is a need for early diagnosis and referral for treatment. At the heart of this are the Family Physicians who are the first port of call for our teeming population. Objectives: The main aim of this study is to assess the ophthalmic knowledge base of Family Physicians and the level of utilization of skills acquired during the ophthalmology rotation in their day-to-day practice. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted. A self-administered questionnaire was filled by all consenting Family Physicians in 4 hospitals in 2 states. It included a self-assessment section on knowledge, ophthalmic skills, and open-ended questions on suggestions. An on-the-spot assessment of available ophthalmic equipment was made. Data was analyzed using STATA 13 with descriptive and analytical statistics to yield frequencies, percentages, and proportions. A significant between-class difference was indicated by P < 0.05. Results: A response rate of 57.9% was obtained. Respondents are graduates from 14 states across the country; mostly in Northern Nigeria 61(87.1%) and 65.6% from the University of Jos. Most respondents received the 4 weeks of ophthalmology rotation 53(82.8%) in undergraduate and 61 (95.3%) in postgraduate. On a dichotomized Likert scale, 68 (97.1%) rated their ophthalmology posting/training experience as satisfactory with half of these ranking their experience as average. There was no statistically significant difference between the level of practice and comfort in managing ophthalmic conditions (p = 0.949). Respondents made suggestions on training, duration and equipment. Conclusion: Most Family Physicians had ophthalmology training for the required 4 weeks by the colleges in addition to the undergraduate training giving them a good knowledge base. Despite a good rating in managing ophthalmic conditions, only one of the 4 hospitals had ophthalmic equipment. There is a need to objectively measure Family Physicians' ophthalmic skills to ensure that eye patients seen first by Family Physicians receive appropriate treatment.

An 8-Year Review of Match Outcomes From a Primary Care Pipeline Program.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Primary care supports the global health care system. With an increased need for primary care physicians, medical schools must provide resources, role models, and opportunities to increase the number of medical students matching into primary care residencies. Some medical schools have developed primary care pipeline programs for students. The outcomes of one such program-the Primary Care Program (PCP)-at the Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) of the University of Southern California (USC), an urban and private academic medical training center, are evaluated here. METHODS: We reviewed PCP student outcome data for students who graduated between 2015 and 2022. Data were gathered through surveys, residency match lists, and graduation records. RESULTS: Among PCP matriculates (n=134), 70% were female and 39% were underrepresented in medicine. Thirteen percent (n=16) of PCP graduates (n=122) completed a master of public health (MPH) degree. Among PCP graduates, 70% matched into primary care residencies compared to 36% of non-PCP graduates (P<.001). The most common residencies that PCP graduates matched into were family medicine (n=45, 37%), internal medicine (n=20, 16%), pediatrics (n=12, 10%), surgery (n=10, 8%), and psychiatry (n=9, 7%). A higher percentage of KSOM students matched into primary care residencies in the 8 graduation years after PCP was instituted (39%) than in the 8 graduation years before PCP was instituted (33%, P=.003). CONCLUSIONS: The PCP data demonstrate the program's success at increasing the number of KSOM graduates matching into primary care residencies. The program provides a replicable training model.

Biopsy of Canada's family physician shortage.

Family physicians provide comprehensive care for the community and are an integral part of the healthcare system. Canada is experiencing a shortage of family physicians, driven in part by overbearing expectations of family physicians, limited support and resources, antiquated physician compensation, and high clinic operating costs. An additional factor contributing to this scarcity is the shortage of medical school and family medicine residency spots, which have not kept pace with population demand. We analysed and compared data on provincial populations and numbers of physicians, residency spots and medical school seats across Canada. Family physician shortages are the highest in the territories (>55%), Quebec (21.5%) and British Columbia (17.7%). Among the provinces, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia have the fewest family physicians per 100 000 persons in the population. Among the provinces that offer medical education, British Columbia and Ontario have the fewest medical school seats per population, while Quebec has the most. British Columbia has the smallest medical class size and the least number of family medicine residency spots as a function of population, and one of the highest percentages of provincial residents without family doctors. Paradoxically, Quebec has a relatively large medical class size and a high number of family medicine residency spots as a function of population, but also one of the highest percentages of provincial residents without family doctors. Possible strategies to improve the current shortage include encouraging Canadian medical students and international medical graduates to consider family medicine, and reducing administrative burdens for current physicians. Other steps include creating a national data framework, understanding physician needs to guide effective policy changes, increasing seats in medical schools and family residency programmes, providing financial incentives and facilitating entry into family medicine for international medical graduates.

Dermoscopy Training in Family Medicine Residencies: A CERA Survey of Program Directors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diagnosing skin disorders is a core skill in family medicine residency. Accurate diagnosis of skin cancers has a significant impact on patient health. Dermoscopy improves a physician's accuracy in diagnosing skin cancers. We aimed to quantify the current state of dermoscopy use and training in family medicine residencies. METHODS: We included questions on dermoscopy training in the 2021 Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA) survey of family medicine residency program directors. The survey asked about access to a dermatoscope, the presence of faculty with experience using dermoscopy, the amount of dermoscopy didactic time, and the amount of hands-on dermoscopy training. RESULTS: Of 631 programs, 275 program directors (43.58% response rate) responded. Half of the responding programs (50.2%) had access to a dermatoscope, and 54.2% had a faculty member with experience using dermoscopy. However, only 6.8% of residents had 4 or more hours of didactics on dermoscopy over their entire training. Only 16.2% had 4 or more hours of hands-on dermoscopy use. Over half (58.9%) of programs planned to add more dermoscopy training. We did not find any correlations between the program's size/type/location and dermoscopy training opportunities. CONCLUSIONS: Despite reasonable access to a dermatoscope and the presence of at least one faculty member with dermoscopy experience, most family medicine residency programs provided limited dermoscopy training opportunities. Research is needed to better understand how to facilitate dermoscopy training in family medicine residencies.

The effect of specific learning difficulties on general practice written and clinical assessments.

BACKGROUND: Substantial numbers of medical students and doctors have specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) and failure to accommodate their needs can disadvantage them academically. Evidence about how SpLDs affect performance during postgraduate general practice (GP) specialty training across the different licencing assessments is lacking. We aimed to investigate the performance of doctors with SpLDs across the range of licencing assessments. METHODS: We adopted the social model of disability as a conceptual framework arguing that problems of disability are societal and that barriers that restrict life choices for people with disabilities need to be addressed. We used a longitudinal design linking Multi-Specialty Assessment (MSRA) records from 2016 and 2017 with their Applied Knowledge Test (AKT), Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA), Recorded Consultation Assessment (RCA) and Workplace Based Assessment (WPBA) outcomes up to 2021. Multivariable logistic regression models accounting for prior attainment and demographics were used to determine the SpLD doctors' likelihood of passing licencing assessments. RESULTS: The sample included 2070 doctors, with 214 (10.34%) declaring a SpLD. Candidates declaring a SpLD were significantly less likely to pass the CSA (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.26, 0.71, p = 0.001) but not the AKT (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.44, 2.09, p = 0.913) or RCA (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.35, 1.85, p = 0.615). Importantly, they were significantly more likely to have difficulties with WPBA (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.20, 0.40, p < 0.001). When looking at licencing tests subdomains, doctors with SpLD performed significantly less well on the CSA Interpersonal Skills (B = -0.70, 95% CI -1.2, -0.19, p = 0.007) and the RCA Clinical Management Skills (B = -1.68, 95% CI -3.24, -0.13, p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Candidates with SpLDs encounter difficulties in multiple domains of the licencing tests and during their training. More adjustments tailored to their needs should be put in place for the applied clinical skills tests and during their training.

Proposal to set up a College of Family Medicine in East, Central and Southern Africa.

Family Medicine training in Africa is constrained by limited postgraduate educational resources and opportunities. Specialist training programmes in surgery, anaesthetics, internal medicine, paediatrics and others have developed a range of trainers and assessors through colleges across East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA). Each college has a single curriculum with standardised training and assessment in designated institutions, which run alongside and in collaboration with the Master's in Medicine programmes in universities. Partnerships between colleges in Britain, Ireland and Canada and national specialist associations have led to joint training-of-trainer courses, e-learning platforms, improved regional coordination, better educational networking and research opportunities through regional conferences and joint publications. We propose the establishment of a regional college for specialist training of family physicians, similar to other specialist colleges in ECSA. Partnerships with family medicine programmes in South Africa, Canada and Australia, with support from international institutions such as the Primary Care and Family Medicine Network for Sub-Saharan Africa (PRIMAFAMED) and the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA Africa), would be essential for its success. Improved health outcomes have been demonstrated with strong primary care systems and related to the number of family physicians in communities. A single regional college would make better use of resources available for training, assessment and accreditation and strengthen international and regional partnerships. Family medicine training in Africa could benefit from the experience of specialist colleges in the ECSA region to accelerate training of a critical mass of family physicians. This will raise the profile of family medicine in Africa and contribute to improved quality of primary care and clinical services in district hospitals.

Towards a Postgraduate Oncology Training Model for Family Medicine: Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Breast Oncology Rotation.

BACKGROUND: Family physicians have low knowledge and preparedness to manage patients with cancer. A breast oncology clinical rotation was developed for family medicine residents to address this gap in medical education. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: A breast oncology rotation for family residents was evaluated using a pre-post knowledge questionnaire and semi-structured interviews comparing rotation (RRs) versus non-rotation (NRRs) residents. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected via a pre-post knowledge questionnaire and semi-structured interviews, respectively. ANALYSIS: Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests to compare pre-post-rotation knowledge and preparedness. Qualitative data were coded inductively, analysed, and grouped into categories and themes. Data sets were integrated. RESULTS: The study was terminated early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Six RRs completed the study; 19 and 2 NRRs completed the quantitative and qualitative portions, respectively. RRs' knowledge scores did not improve, but there was a non-significant increase in preparedness (5.3 to 8.4, p = 0.17) post-rotation. RRs described important rotation outcomes: knowledge of the patient work-up, referral process, and patient treatment trajectory; skills in risk assessment, clinical examination, and empathy, and comfort in counseling. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Important educational outcomes were obtained despite no change in knowledge scores. This rotation can be adapted to other training programs including an oncology primer to enable trainee integration of new information.

How can competencies in minor surgery in general practice be increased? Assessing the effect of a compact intervention in postgraduate training: a mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess general practice (GP) trainees' self-perception of surgical competencies and to explore longitudinal effects of a compact intervention. DESIGN: We performed a mixed-methods study including a before and after comparison in the intervention group (IG), a comparison of attendees and non-attendees (control group (CG)) and a qualitative evaluation of the intervention. Competencies were self-assessed through surveys. Semi-structured interviews were performed after 9 months. SETTING: In 2019, a 2-day voluntary seminar focussing on minor surgery/injuries was offered on 13 occasions by educators from KWBW Verbundweiterbildungplus (Competence Centre for Postgraduate Medical Education Baden-Württemberg). PARTICIPANTS: All enrolled GP trainees were offered participation. GP trainees who did not attend a seminar (non-attendees) were recruited for CG after the 13th intervention. INTERVENTION: Attendees took part in an interactive, GP-oriented short course incorporating 270 min of focused minor surgery/injuries training (compact intervention) on the second day of the 2-day seminar. RESULTS: 326 GP trainees (IG: n=257; CG: n=69) participated in the study. 17 attendees were interviewed. CG had more often experienced a surgical rotation (p=0.03) and reported higher interest in performing minor surgery in future practice (p=0.03). GP trainees self-rated their all-round competency in minor surgery as average (IG: 3.0±1.0, CG: 3.2±0.9, IG:CG p=0.06). After the intervention, attendees felt that surgical skills should be a core component of GP vocational training (p=0.05). After 9 months, attendees remembered a variety of content and valued the interactive, case-oriented, peer-to-peer approach in a mixed learning group. Some attendees reported they had started to overcome competency gaps in minor surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A compact intervention in minor surgery provides an 'intense' stimulus which could foster positive attitudes towards minor surgery and promote longitudinal personal development of related competencies in GP trainees, including those with little interest in surgery. Such measures appear crucial to support individual progress of GP trainees to provide comprehensive primary care.

El rol del tutor en la formación del especialista de Medicina General Integral / The Tutor's Role in the Training of the Specialist in Family and Community Medicine

Introducción: La figura del tutor tiene vital importancia en la formación del especialista de Medicina General Integral. Objetivo: Valorar los antecedentes de la función del tutor en la formación del especialista de MGI en Cuba. Métodos: Se realizó un análisis documental, a partir de una búsqueda de literatura relevante sobre el tema de enero de 2019 a enero de 2020. Se utilizaron los buscadores de información científica Pubmed, Scielo y Google Académico. Se evaluaron artículos de revisión, de investigación y páginas web que tenían menos de 10 años de publicados, en idioma español, portugués e inglés, y que hicieran referencia al tema de estudio a través del título. Fueron excluidos los artículos que no cumplieron con estas condiciones. Esto permitió el estudio de 83 referencias bibliográficas, de las cuales 34 se citaron en el presente artículo. Conclusiones: La labor del tutor en la formación del especialista de Medicina General Integral constituye un eje primordial para la formación de los residentes como regulador de la estrategia y ritmo del sistema de enseñanza y aprendizaje, acorde al contexto histórico en el que se han desarrollado y evolucionado los diferentes planes de estudio de la especialidad(AU)

Introduction: The tutor's role is of vital importance in the training of the specialist in family and community medicine. Objective: To assess the background about the tutor's role in the training of the specialist in family and community medicine in Cuba. Method: A document analysis was carried out, based on a search of relevant literature about the subject from January 2019 to January 2020. The scientific information search engines Pubmed, Scielo and Google Scholar were used. Review articles, research articles and web pages were assessed, of the were published within the last ten years old, in Spanish, Portuguese and English, and that made reference to the topic of study through the title. Articles that did not meet these conditions were excluded. These criteria allowed the study of 83 bibliographic references, of which 34 were cited in the present article. Conclusions: The tutor's work is a cornerstone in the training of the specialist in family and community medicine, as far as it is a regulator of the strategy and rhythm of the teaching and learning system, according to the historical context in which the different programs of studies for the specialty have been developed and evolved(AU)

Alignment Between Resident Medical Condition Regard Scale Scores and Desire to Treat Patients With Opioid Use Disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To (1) evaluate attitudes of resident physicians towards patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and (2) identify characteristics associated with residents' desire to treat patients with OUD. METHODS: We administered the validated medical condition regard scale (MCRS), a question regarding desire to treat patients with OUD, and a demographic questionnaire to residents in multiple specialties at the University of New Mexico (family medicine, psychiatry, emergency medicine, internal medicine, anesthesiology, general surgery, obstetrics/gynecology). RESULTS: One hundred sixty-three of 307 residents (53%) responded to the survey; 146 provided complete responses to the "desire" and MCRS questions. Response rates, MCRS, and desire to care for patients with OUD varied between specialties ( P < 0.001); family medicine had highest MCRS and desire to care scores; surgery, anesthesiology had low scores. MCRS and resident "desire" scores were highly correlated on univariate analysis ( r = 0.73, P < 0.001); resident demographics were not. On logistic regression, resident desire to care for OUD increased with MCRS scores ( P < 0.001). The predicated probability of desire to care for OUD was ≥80% with MCRS >57; MCRS classification skill on receiver operator curve analysis was excellent (area under curve = 0.81 [95% confidence interval 0.74, 0.88], and specialty-adjusted MCRS area under curve = 0.85 [95% confidence interval 0.79, 0.91]). CONCLUSIONS: High resident regard for patients with OUD on MCRS was directly related to resident's desire to provide OUD care. MCRS may offer a tool to alter or individualize OUD education, potentially influencing the OUD workforce of the future.

Practice Profiles and Patterns of Ontario Family Medicine Residents 5 Years After Residency Examinations: An Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of family medicine residency training is for graduates to provide high-quality, safe, and effective patient care for the population they serve when they enter practice. This study explores (a) the practice profiles, 5 years into practice, of residents who completed family medicine training in Ontario, Canada; and (b) relationships between performance on the College of Family Physicians of Canada's (CFPC) Certification Examination in Family Medicine and quality of care provided 5 years into practice. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study with secondary data analysis. We merged CFPC examination data sets with the ICES (Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) administrative database. We included physicians who passed the examination between the years 2000 and 2010 and practiced in Ontario after graduation. Practice profile indicators included practice type, continuity and comprehensiveness of care, patient rostering and panel size, and rurality index. We explored 11 indicators related to management of diabetes and cancer screening. RESULTS: We included a total of 1,983 physicians in the analyses. Five years after the examinations, 74.3% of the physicians were working in major urban centers, and 67.3% of the physicians were providing comprehensive primary care. We noted significant differences across the six medical schools in multiple practice profile indicators, and three indicators showed significant differences across the examination score quintiles. CONCLUSIONS: Graduates of Ontario family medicine residency programs were providing care to a broad spectrum of the population 5 years after passing the examination, and they performed similarly across quality-of-care indicators regardless of examination scores.

Profile and Migration of Members of Residency Programs in Family Medicine / Perfil e migração de membros dos Programas de Residência em Medicina de Família e Comunidade

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the sociodemographic profile and analyze the migratory characteristics of the members of the Residency Programs in Family Medicine in 2020 in Brazil. METHODS The study follows a cross-sectional observational design of a quantitative nature from the perspective of the members of the Residency Programs in Family Medicine. Questionnaires adapted for each participating group were developed, applied through an online platform. RESULTS Most participants are female and white. Most supervisors and preceptors were residents of Residency Programs in Family Medicine, however, there are some who are not specialists in the field. Most participants are based in capitals or metropolitan regions. In relation to retention, 41.1% of supervisors and 73.1% of preceptors are affiliated to a program in the same municipality where they lived. For most resident physicians, the place of residence coincides with the place of birth and/or graduation (57.4%), and 48.5% are in the same place of graduation. CONCLUSIONS The research reinforces the need for policies to promote the migration of residents to Residency Programs in Family Medicine outside capital cities and metropolitan regions, as well as encouraging the retention of graduates trained outside large urban centers so that they can contribute to distribution and provision of doctors where they are still needed.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Caracterizar o perfil sociodemográfico e analisar as características migratórias dos integrantes dos Programas de Residência em Medicina de Família e Comunidade em 2020 no Brasil. MÉTODOS O estudo segue um delineamento observacional transversal de natureza quantitativa a partir da perspectiva dos integrantes dos Programas de Residência em Medicina de Família e Comunidade. Foram desenvolvidos questionários adaptados para cada grupo participante, aplicados por meio de plataforma on-line. RESULTADOS A maioria dos participantes é do sexo feminino e de cor branca. A maioria dos supervisores e preceptores foi residente de Programas de Residência em Medicina de Família e Comunidade, contudo, há alguns que não são especialistas na área. A maior parte dos participantes está vinculada às capitais ou regiões metropolitanas. Em relação à fixação, 41,1% dos supervisores e 73,1% dos preceptores estão vinculados a um programa no mesmo município onde foram residentes. Para a maioria dos médicos residentes, o local da residência coincide com o local de nascimento e/ou graduação (57,4%), sendo que 48,5% estão no mesmo local de graduação. CONCLUSÕES A pesquisa reforça a necessidade de políticas de promoção da migração de residentes para Programas de Residência em Medicina de Família e Comunidade fora das capitais e regiões metropolitanas, bem como estimula a fixação dos egressos formados fora dos grandes centros urbanos para que eles possam contribuir com a distribuição e com o provimento de médicos onde ainda é necessário.

Consideraciones didácticas para la instrumentación de la Estadística en la formación investigativa del médico general integral / Didactic Considerations for the Instrumentation of Statistics in the Research Training of the Comprehensive General Doctor

Introducción: Estudios realizados en los últimos años señalan dificultades en torno al componente investigativo del programa de formación del médico general integral destacando la inadecuada utilización de la Estadística por parte de sus especialistas en estrecha relación con insuficiencias que tienen lugar durante su formación. Objetivo: Proponer algunas consideraciones didácticas para dar solución a las inconsistencias que presenta la formación de la dimensión investigativa de los especialistas en medicina general integral en relación a la utilización de la Estadística. Material y Métodos: Revisión documental de artículos y trabajos referentes al estado actual del uso de la Estadística en la actividad científica de médicos generales integrales y su relación con insuficiencias durante la formación de la dimensión investigativa de estos especialistas. Las fuentes de información consultadas fueron accedidas a través de diferentes buscadores y bases de datos, entre ellas SciELO, Google Académico, Medline y Pubmed. Resultados y discusión: Los trabajos analizados demuestran que el proceso de formación de la dimensión investigativa de los especialistas de medicina general integral manifiesta insuficiencias durante la aplicación de la Estadística, determinado por una inadecuada instrumentación de sus contenidos en el programa docente. Conclusiones: Existe una instrumentación inadecuada de la Estadística en el programa docente para el desarrollo de la dimensión investigativa de los especialistas de medicina general integral. Se sugieren algunas consideraciones didácticas para la instrumentación de la Estadística en la formación del médico general integral(AU)

Introduction: Studies carried out in recent years indicate difficulties around the investigative component of the comprehensive general practitioner training program, highlighting the inadequate use of Statistics by its specialists in close relation to shortcomings that occur during their training. Objective: To propose some didactic considerations to solve the inconsistencies presented by the training of the investigative dimension of specialists in comprehensive general medicine in relation to the use of Statistics. Material and Methods: Documentary review of articles and works referring to the current state of the use of Statistics in the scientific activity of comprehensive general practitioners and its relationship with deficiencies during the training of the investigative dimension of these specialists. The sources of information consulted were accessed through different search engines and databases, including SciELO, Google Academic, Medline and Pubmed. Results and Discussion: The analyzed works show that the process of formation of the investigative dimension of the specialists of integral general medicine shows insufficiencies during the application of the Statistics, determined by an inadequate instrumentation of its contents in the teaching program. Conclusions: There is an inadequate instrumentation of Statistics in the teaching program for the development of the investigative dimension of specialists in general comprehensive medicine. Some didactic considerations are suggested for the instrumentation of Statistics in the training of the comprehensive general practitioner(AU)

COVID-19 disruption to family medicine residency curriculum: results from a 2020 US programme directors survey.

OBJECTIVE: This research project examined the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the required curriculum in graduate medical education for family medicine residencies. DESIGN: Our questions were part of a larger omnibus survey conducted by the Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance. Data were collected from 23 September to 16 October 2020. SETTING: This study was set in the USA. PARTICIPANTS: Emails were sent to 664 family medicine programme directors in the USA. Of the 312 surveys returned, 35 did not answer our questions and were excluded, a total of 277 responses (44%) were analysed. RESULTS: The level of disruption varied by discipline and region. Geriatrics had the highest reported disruption (median=4 on a 5-point scale) and intensive care unit had the lowest (median=1 on a 5-point scale). There were no significant differences for disruption by type of programme or community size. CONCLUSION: Programme directors reported moderate disruption in family medicine resident education in geriatrics, gynaecology, surgery, musculoskeletal medicine, paediatrics and family medicine site during the pandemic. We are limited in generalisations about how region, type of programme, community size or number of residents influenced the level of disruption, as less than 50% of programme directors completed the survey.

Historia de la Medicina Familiar en Colón / History of Family Medicine in Colón

RESUMEN La formación de un médico de nuevo modelo en Cuba surge de forma experimental por la necesidad que tenía la población de recibir una atención médica integral. Como siempre nuestro comandante con sus ideas revolucionarias plantea la necesidad de su creación para que cada familia cubana contara con un médico y una enfermera que les brindara apoyo y cuidado desde el punto de vista clínico, epidemiológico y social. El municipio de Colón fue el primero en implementar este novedoso programa en la provincia de Matanzas. Con el objetivo de dar a conocer el surgimiento y desarrollo del mismo en esta ciudad es que se realiza el siguiente trabajo (AU).

SUMMARY The training of a new model doctor in Cuba arises experimentally because of the need of the population to receive comprehensive medical care. As always, our commander with his revolutionary ideas raised the need for its creation so that each Cuban family would have a doctor and a nurse who could provide support and care from a clinical, epidemiological and social point of view. The municipality of Colón was the first to implement this novel program in the province of Matanzas. With the aim of publicizing its emergence and development in our city, the authors wrote the following article (AU).