Evaluation of the Internal Medicine Internship in General Residency

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: General population and medical community are focused on the urge of medical education. The portuguese general residency (Internato de Formação Geral) is the first step for clinical practice in our country. To improve medical education in our unit, the authors decided to evaluate the Internal Medicine rotation.
METHODS: A questionnaire using Likert scales was sent to the 48 medical residents who completed the Internal Medicine rotation between 2020 and 2021. We evaluated the unit’s capacity to integrate these doctors, as well as to promote moments that help them to acquire autonomy and knowledge.
RESULTS: We obtain 24 (50%) answers. A significant portion of the residents, 21%, were not introduced to the unit, and the rotation goals were not communicated in 63% of cases. However, 79% of the medical team reported that the changes were well received. Educational moments were classified as sufficient or less in 54%, however 63% categorized high their learning.
CONCLUSION: After analysing the results, we proposed changes to improve medical education in our unit. Internal Medicine, with its holistic approach and broad range of pathologies, it is an essential pilar of medical education that should not be diminished.