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Appl Clin Inform 2024; 15(03): 437-445
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1786977
Research Article

Preparing Future Pediatric Care Providers with a Clinical Informatics Elective

Tiranun Rungvivatjarus
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of California – San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
2   Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California, United States
,
Mario Bialostozky
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of California – San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
2   Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California, United States
,
Amy Z. Chong
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of California – San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
2   Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California, United States
,
Jeannie S. Huang
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of California – San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
2   Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California, United States
,
Cynthia L. Kuelbs
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of California – San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
2   Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Background Clinical informatics (CI) has reshaped how medical information is shared, evaluated, and utilized in health care delivery. The widespread integration of electronic health records (EHRs) mandates proficiency among physicians and practitioners, yet medical trainees face a scarcity of opportunities for CI education.

Objectives We developed a CI rotation at a tertiary pediatric care center to teach categorical pediatric, pediatric–neurology, and medicine–pediatric residents foundational CI knowledge and applicable EHR skills.

Methods Created in 2017 and redesigned in 2020, a CI rotation aimed to provide foundational CI knowledge, promote longitudinal learning, and encourage real-world application of CI skills/tools. Led by a team of five physician informaticist faculty, the curriculum offers personalized rotation schedules and individual sessions with faculty for each trainee. Trainees were tasked with completing an informatics project, knowledge assessment, and self-efficacy perception survey before and after rotation. Paired t-test analyses were used to compare pre- and postcurriculum perception survey.

Results Thirty-one residents have completed the elective with their projects contributing to diverse areas such as medical education, division-specific initiatives, documentation improvement, regulatory compliance, and operating plan goals. The mean knowledge assessment percentage score increased from 77% (11.6) to 92% (10.6; p ≤ 0.05). Residents' perception surveys demonstrated improved understanding and confidence across various informatics concepts and tools (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion Medical trainees are increasingly interested in CI education and find it valuable. Our medical education curriculum was successful at increasing residents' understanding, self-efficacy, and confidence in utilizing CI concepts and EHR tools. Future data are needed to assess the impact such curricula have on graduates' proficiency and efficiency in the use of CI tools in the clinical workplace.

Keywords

clinical informatics - pediatrics - training - residency - evaluation

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

The study was performed in compliance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki on Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects, and was reviewed by the local institutional review board.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 21 January 2024

Accepted: 12 April 2024

Article published online:
05 June 2024

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