# Enhancing professional development in medical residency through a shadow curriculum: an evaluation based on Kirkpatrick model

## TL;DR

A shadow curriculum improved professional development for medical residents by boosting knowledge and satisfaction in areas like patient safety and clinical documentation.

## Contribution

The study introduces a shadow curriculum for medical residents that effectively enhances professional development through personalized learning.

## Key findings

- Residents showed significant knowledge improvement in antibiotic prescribing and patient safety.
- Over half of participants reported satisfaction with the course content and organization.
- Qualitative feedback highlighted themes like consumer-oriented learning and self-directed learning.

## Abstract

Current medical residency programs often neglect critical areas of professional development, such as patient safety, stewardship, and effective clinical documentation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a shadow curriculum designed to enhance these aspects for medical residents.

The shadow curriculum was implemented for first-year residents in ophthalmology, internal medicine, and urology, consisting of an 8-hour workshop covering job encounters, stewardship, patient safety principles, medical documentation, and electronic prescribing. Conducted in 2023 with 22 residents, the evaluation utilized questionnaires, pre- and post-tests, and semi-structured interviews to assess satisfaction and learning outcomes.

54.55% of participants with a mean score of 23.66 (SD = 1.97) reported satisfaction with course content, and 63.63% with a mean score of 22.64 (SD = 2.63), were satisfied with the course organization. Pre/post-test results showed a significant knowledge increase (p < 0.001), particularly in antibiotic prescribing and patient safety. Qualitative interviews emphasized on three themes including consumer oriented learning, changing the perspective of teaching and learning, and promotion of self-directed learning.

This study highlights the shadow curriculum’s effectiveness in improving residents’ professional satisfaction and knowledge. By prioritizing learner perspectives and extending opportunities beyond traditional settings, it fosters a personalized learning environment. These findings underscore the need to integrate shadow curricula into medical training to meet evolving educational needs and enhance professional development.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-025-07233-z.