Faculty expectations and primary care residentsʼ perceptions concerning residentsʼ growth in competence at one medical school

The authors studied at one school both the developing confidence of primary care residents and the expectations of both internal medicine and specialty faculty members regarding the abilities of the residents. From 1980 to 1988, residents in the study institution's program in internal medicine primary care completed self-assessments concerning their diagnostic and management skills in primary care and several specialties at the start of their training and at the ends of their first, second, and third years. In 1988, the authors elicited the expectations of the primary care and specialty faculties regarding the levels of competence that residents should achieve in the specialties by the end of their third year. When the faculty assessments were compared, the specialists were found to ascribe greater levels of autonomy to residents. The authors conclude that involving residents and faculty members from various disciplines in developing expectations and evaluation criteria can enhance faculty members' perceptions of residents' clinical competence and residents' achievement of it.