# A97 INTERNAL MEDICINE RESIDENT AND STAFF PERCEPTIONS OF GASTROENTEROLOGY ROTATION

## TL;DR

This study explores how internal medicine residents and new staff perceive gastroenterology rotations and identifies gaps in knowledge and awareness that may affect their comfort in managing GI conditions.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific misperceptions and knowledge gaps among residents and new staff regarding gastroenterology, leading to actionable improvements.

## Key findings

- Residents and staff often avoid GI electives due to negative word-of-mouth and overnight consults.
- Most participants reported limited GI teaching and were unaware of formal lectures during GI rotations.
- Residents and staff were most comfortable managing pancreatitis but wanted more experience with liver masses and IBD flares.

## Abstract

The choice of subspecialty by internal medicine residents is partially influenced by their experience with that service. Challenges exist between internal medicine and the high acuity, procedurally-heavy, gastroenterology (GI) service. Negative perceptions may limit the number of residents rotating through a gastroenterology elective, impacting knowledge and comfort managing common GI conditions.

To identify misperceptions of the GI service at a tertiary hospital, and evaluate resident and new staff comfort in managing common GI conditions.

Twenty-question survey sent to internal medicine residents during 2022-2023 and 13-question survey sent to staff that completed training from 2020-2022; both anonymous, and using Qualtrics software.

The survey was completed by 18% (30/166) of residents and 20% (13/65) of staff. Most staff (62%) practiced in a community setting. Both cohorts cited overnight cross-coverage consults during (56%) and negative word-of mouth (38%), as reasons they avoided a GI elective. Most participants reported a little (33%) or moderate (47%) amount of GI teaching on medicine service and were unaware of formal lectures (79%) during a GI rotation. Residents and staff were most comfortable managing pancreatitis (98%) and ALF (74%). Staff wished for more experience managing pancreatic and liver masses and outpatient IBD flares; however both groups (86%) were unaware of the ambulatory week during the GI rotation.

Misperception and unawareness of a GI elective persist amongst internal medicine residents and has implications for new staff managing GI conditions. This study has led to action items that address these concerns.

Table 1: Resident & staff awareness, perceptions & knowledge of GI

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