Antibiotic and mental status changes

Short Communication - Research and Reports in Pulmonology (2020) Volume 1, Issue 1

Khon Kaen, University Thailand

Relatively little is known about interest in pediatric pulmonology among pediatric residents. The purpose

of this study, therefore, was to determine at this institution: 1) the level of pediatric resident interest

in pursuing a pulmonary fellowship, 2) potential factors involved in development of such interest, 3)

whether the presence of a pulmonary fellowship program affects such interest. A questionnaire was

distributed to all 52 pediatric residents at this institution in 1992 and to all 59 pediatric residents and

14 combined internal medicine/pediatrics residents in 2002, following development of a pulmonary

fellowship program. The specialty of pediatric pulmonology is relatively new, having been recognized as

a pediatric sub-specialty by the American Board of Medical Sub-specialties in 1984. In 1997, there were

approximately 500 board certified pediatric pulmonologists in the United States and Canada. This number

has increased in recent years with 708 board certified pulmonologists being identified in 2003. It has

been estimated that there is one pediatric pulmonologist for every 280,000 children in the United States.

There are over 50 pediatric pulmonary fellowship programs in North America with approximately 30–

35 fellows graduating each year. The demand for pediatric pulmonologists has increased during the past

decade, with many academic centers looking for two or more pulmonologists simultaneously. A recent

national survey of medical directors at children's hospitals across the country found that vacancy rates

for faculty in pediatric pulmonology (25 of 136 positions vacant = 18.4%) was ranked second highest,

behind only pediatric endocrinology, among over 40 pediatric subspecialties. Despite this demand, little

is known about overall interest in this field among pediatric residents. For this reason, this study was

completed to examine interest among pediatric residents in entering a pulmonary fellowship. The specific

aim of this study, therefore, was to determine at our institution: 1) the level of pediatric resident interest

in pursuing a pulmonary fellowship; 2) potential factors involved in development of such interest; 3)

whether the presence of an active fellowship program affected resident interest in such a program.

This study involved the distribution of a questionnaire to all pediatric residents. The questionnaire was

initially distributed in 1992 prior to institution of a pulmonary fellowship. The questionnaire was placed

in the hospital mailbox of each resident. The study was repeated (and the questionnaire redistributed) in

2002 after the fellowship, which began in 1994, had been functioning for several years. To improve the

response rate, the questionnaire was distributed twice, one month apart, during each time period. The

questionnaire was a three-page, 18 question form that took approximately 15 minutes to complete.The

questionnaire asked several epidemiological questions (e.g. year of residency, whether medical school

was attended at this institution), several questions that pertained to an individual resident's interest

in entering any specialty fellowship, and approximately 12 questions specifically dealing with interest

in doing a pulmonary fellowship and factors that may be either positively or negatively related to such

interest. The survey utilized a flow diagram, and consequently, slightly different questions were asked

depending on a resident's interest or lack of interest in a pulmonary fellowship.

Author(s): Wiwat Kaeopraphatson