JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Perioperative medicine, as part of the curriculum is an ACGME requirement in residency programs. There is increased need for primary care physicians to risk stratify and optimize patients with significant comorbidities prior to undergoing complex surgeries. However, minimal data exists in knowledge, perception, and barriers to perioperative medicine in the primary care field.

Objective:

To survey faculty and residents in the Internal Medicine and Family Medicine program about their training and comfort levels in managing patients perioperatively and to identify potential barriers that physicians have in rendering perioperative care.

Methods:

An online Qualtrics survey was sent to 101 faculty and 144 residents in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine at the University of Florida. Responses on the survey was measured on a Likert scale. Once all responses was received, the data was analyzed with Excel to look at trends in physician perceived deficits and concerns in perioperative management.

Results:

Residents were least comfortable doing preoperative evaluations (Average=3.3/5, N=35) especially those planning primary care careers. Amongst faculty, more years in practice is positively correlated with more comfort in perioperative medicine. The survey had a response rate of 16.8% for faculty (17/101) and 24.3% for residents (35/144). A need for additional educational opportunities is noted during residency training and at Continuing Medical Education (CME) events.

Conclusions:

There is a need for additional education in perioperative medicine in the curriculum of Internal Medicine and Family Medicine programs. Over time physicians are more comfortable with perioperative medicine but still need updates at CME events. Structured curriculum, more exposure to preoperative evaluations and management of complex patients may result in primary care physicians getting comfortable with perioperative care.