Abstract: PO1391
Glomerular Disease Education Experience Across Nephrology Fellowship Programs
Session Information
- Educational Research
October 22, 2020 | Location: On-Demand
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Educational Research
- 800 Educational Research
Authors
- Norouzi, Sayna, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
- Seethapathy, Harish Shanthanu, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Poyan-Mehr, Ali, Kaiser Permanente, San Franciso, California, United States
Background
Glomerular disease (GN) education is an important, albeit a challenging component of nephrology fellowship training. We hypothesized that trainee experience varies widely across programs, leading to differences in self-reported competency levels in the diagnosis and managing of GN.
Methods
The Glomerular Disease Study & Trial Consortium (GlomCon) conducted an anonymous online survey to evaluate the educational experience of nephrology trainees. We used multiple-choice questions to obtain data about a) curriculum-based education, b) dedicated specialty clinic, and c) exposure to pathology. We leveraged a visual analogue scale of 1-100 (higher number indicating a higher comfort level) to assess self-reported levels of clinical competency. The survey was disseminated via email, the GlomCon website, and Twitter.
Results
There were 107 responses across all years of fellowship training – first-year (25%), second-year (34%), third-year (22%), and fourth-year (19%). A total of 44% reported no GN clinic at their institutions. The presence of an onsite nephropathologist was reported by 63% of responders and 37% reported no onsite nephropathologist or limited exposure. In a visual analogue, the mean competency for GN diagnosis and treatment were 59±26 and 52±25, respectively.
Trainees with no onsite nephropathologist and those with limited exposure scored significantly lower in diagnosing GN as compared to those with an onsite nephropathologist (51±25 vs. 64±26, p<0.05). Trainees with more exposure to GN specialty clinic had a higher comfort level in treating GN (Fig). Figure demonstrates frequency of trainees in each group with a comfort level above the overall median score (51).
Conclusion
Trainees report a wide variation in GN education across fellowship programs. A lack of exposure to onsite nephropathologist and a dedicated GN curriculum were associated with lower scores in self-reported clinical competency in caring for patients with glomerular disease.