Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine whether Medical Informatics education among house staff is included in the current residency curriculum, and to present ways in which this type of education may be improved.
Design: During autumn 1996 a mailed survey was distributed to chief residents of American paediatric residency programmes. Questions included the resident's use of computers, the influence of Informatics-trained faculty members on programme education and plans for curriculum expansion.
Setting: Division of General Paediatrics, University of Alabama, United States.
Subjects: Paediatric chief residents.
Results: Eighty programmes (63%) returned a survey. An average of 97% of residents use the computer for looking up patient laboratory results, while 70% use it for Medline searches. Less than half of all residents use the Internet or computer-based learning programmes. Thirty-seven per cent of programmes provided formal lectures on computer topics, and 22% of programmes provided hands-on Internet training. There was no association between the presence if Informatics faculty and current programmes; however, programmes with Informatics faculty were more likely to have future curriculum plans (P=0.04). Some of the programmes' future plans are described.
Conclusions: We felt that an overall description of what is currently being done with computers would be helpful as a baseline for other programmes considering new curricula changes. Residents use the computer often to check patient laboratory results but not as much for self-education. Many programmes are expanding their Informatics curriculum. Faculty without formal Informatics training can take part in basic computer education for residents. A self-study approach by the residents has been received positively.