The following is a summary of “Academic Half Day Improves Resident Perception of Education Without Compromising Patient Safety,” published in the February 2024 issue of Pediatrics by Spence al.

Ensuring the effectiveness of resident education while maintaining patient safety is crucial in residency programs. In response to challenges posed by the traditional noon conference series, the institution introduced an Academic Half Day (AHD) during the 2021-2022 academic year.

This prospective, single-site educational intervention study aimed to assess the impact of AHD implementation on various aspects, including education, patient safety, and workflow.

Pre- and post-implementation surveys and ACGME surveys were utilized to gauge changes in trainee and faculty attitudes and behaviors. Patient safety and workflow were evaluated by comparing safety event report rates, rapid response team activations, time to admission from the Emergency Department (ED), and time of discharge on AHD days versus other weekdays.

Survey response rates ranged from 29% to 68% across residents, fellows, and faculty. Implementation of AHD led to a significant, positive shift in resident attitudes and experiences, as evidenced by both surveys and ACGME survey items. Importantly, there were no significant differences in safety event report rates or rapid response team activation rates between AHD days and other weekdays. Similarly, the median admission time from the ED was similar between AHD weekdays and other weekdays. Additionally, there was no significant variance in median discharge time between AHD and other weekdays.

The findings of this study indicate that the introduction of AHD did not compromise patient safety or workflow. Moreover, residents strongly favored AHD, which is consistent with prior research. Thus, AHD emerges as a promising framework for resident education, offering a conducive learning environment without adverse effects on patient care.

 Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876285924000603