Integration in a residency scholarship curriculum: Successes and challenges in a family medicine program

Abstract

In early 2020, a Family Medicine (FM) faculty member reached out to request library instruction for second-year residents (PGY2) working on scholarly projects. Tailored library sessions were integrated into the second-year residency curriculum. Two years after implementing this program, 23 residents were surveyed to understand what residents learned and what training they still needed to assist them with their scholarly projects. Librarians and the FM faculty member then added citation management content to the curriculum. A research study to measure the impact of the library interventions on resident’s library research skills was piloted. Pre-test data showed that the FM residents lacked knowledge in locating library resources and were not comfortable with citation management tools. Post-test data showed that most residents were clearer about where to search for sources for their research, were more comfortable using citation managers, and better understood how to use Boolean terms.