Comparing learning outcomes among postgraduate year trainee groups

Background: The objective of postgraduate year (PGY) training programs is to inculcate in medical graduates the expected levels of skills in patient care. This study compared the core clinical competencies of trainees who received PGY training at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital by attending the pilot training program in different groups. Methods: We used six 10-min test stations for clinical performance evaluation, which comprised four and two test stations designed for objective structured clinical examination and procedural skill, respectively, to evaluate the learning outcomes of the trainees. The trainees were divided into three groups according to the training programs that they had attended. Results: The aspects of clinical performance included history taking, physical examination, medical communication, logical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. The trainees who selected the surgery-based training program exhibited a higher performance at the station for aseptic surgical preparation than the other two groups (p = 0.0261). The trainees who selected the internal medical training program (p = 0.0020) exhibited a higher performance at the station for abdominal pain in children. Conclusions: A well-designed postgraduate training program should develop trainees' competencies, particularly clinical operational skills. The results of this study may provide useful insight into methods for improving the design of training programs. Additional investigation is necessary for understanding the effects of different programs on the clinical performance of trainees.