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UPJ INSIGHT: Is a Urology Intern Boot Camp Needed?

By: Kelly Stratton, MD, Rodrigo Donalisio da Silva, MD, Craig A. Peters, MD, Rose Khavari, MD | Posted on: 01 Nov 2022

Khavari R, Donalisio da Silva R, Peters CA, Stratton K. Is a “urology intern boot camp” needed?. Urol Pract. 2022; 9(6):605-613.

Study Need and Importance

Each year, urology residency programs around the country work hard to onboard a new group of interns in preparation for July 1. A recent shift of responsibility for internship from general surgery to urology has created a new opportunity for programs to better prepare their residents. The variable experience of incoming interns along with a need to demonstrate clinical proficiency prior to allowing them autonomy has highlighted an opportunity for internship “boot camp” experiences. Other specialties have seen the benefit of trainee boot camps. This study set out to explore the need for a boot camp to prepare interns starting their urology residency.

What We Found

Figure. Junior resident (Uro-1) and program director (PD)/chair response to perceived preparedness for Uro-1s to function as an intern on July 1.

This study found that only 30% of respondents (postgraduate year 1 and postgraduate year 2 urology residents) participated in an internship boot camp with the majority administered by their general surgery program. The majority of junior residents felt unprepared for internship with 16% feeling not prepared at all (see Figure). Nearly all residents (92%) showed an interest in participating in a boot camp. Similar to junior residents, the majority of program directors/chairs felt that residents were not prepared for internship with 6% not at all prepared. Most program directors/chairs (51%) were willing to financially support intern participation in a boot camp experience.

Limitations

The primary limitation of this study was the response rate to the survey. A total of 730 surveys were sent, with an overall response rate of 20%.

Interpretation for Patient Care

Urology training programs share the core responsibility of preparing residents for patient care. Preparation is one potential factor related to quality care and is closely associated with trainee readiness for autonomy during patient care. This study shows a strong desire among trainees and residency program directors for standardization in preparation for urology internship. The findings support development of a national urology internship boot camp experience.

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