2017 Volume 120 Issue 10 Pages 1239-1245
In Japan, clinical training program for junior residents was started in 2004 and has been administered for over 10 year now. Otolaryngology is an optional subject in the program, and most junior residents generally complete the training program without recerving any experience in dealing with diseases and symptoms in the field of otolaryngology.
We have introduced an otolaryngology outpatient examination training program for all our junior residents to improve the quality of the clinical training at our hospital. A survey using a questonnaire developed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare was conducted in trainees who had completed the clinical training objectives of the program, to evaluate the impact of the training program and assess the experience of trainees in handling referred clinical cases.
Overall, 163 junior residents who were registered at our hospital from 2012 to 2014, participated in the survey. Results of the survey before and after the introduction of the otolaryngology outpatient examination training program were compared. At a result of the training, the experience rate of common diseases such as dizziness were improved and the ability of the residents to manage common diseases, such as dizziness, improved, and their ability to manage otolaryngology-specific conditions, such as nasal bleeding and hoarseness of the voice, also improved.
A resident of the program commented that his first impression of otolaryngology was narrow field, but the training revealed to how diverse the clinical field actually is. Another resident commented that the training program enhanced interest in the field of otolaryngology.
We consider that the otolaryngology outpatient examination training program at our hospital is valuable for residents familiarize themselves with the subject of otolaryngology. Comments in the open questonaire suggest that hat the training program provides better clarity to the residents about diseases in the field of otolaryngology than before.
Due to the current clinical training program, the relationship between junior residents and otolaryngologists has also become easier. The otolaryngology outpatient examination training program for junior residents has great potential for improving the clinical skills of the residents, as well as for stimulating their interest in the clinical field of otolaryngology.
