Background and/or Objectives: To improve resident knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy and physical exam skills via a 10% knowledge score improvement and reported comfort with musculoskeletal anatomy and physical exam from pre and post-tests.
Design: Quality Improvement: following the "plan-do-study-act" (PDSA) methodology.
Setting : PM&R resident didactic lectures.
Participants : 27 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residents, ranging in training from post graduate year 2 to post graduate year 4.
Interventions: During the 2022-2023 academic year, a series of 5 musculoskeletal lectures were developed to focus on musculoskeletal anatomy, physical exam maneuvers, and hands on physical exam practice with faculty supervision. Each lecture was led by a sports medicine fellowship trained faculty member and organized by joint (shoulder, knee, spine, hip, hand/wrist). We developed a 10 question pre and post-test for each lecture that focused on resident knowledge of anatomy, physical exam maneuvers, and resident familiarity with each respective joint. Questions were developed and approved by sports medicine trained faculty.
Main Outcome Measures: Average musculoskeletal knowledge score (from 0.0-10.0), and the subjective resident familiarity score (from 5 for “unfamiliar” to 1 for “very familiar”).
Results: A 14% improvement in the average resident musculoskeletal knowledge score (from 6.2 to 7.2, pre to post-test). A 19% improvement in resident subjective familiarity with musculoskeletal anatomy and physical exam maneuvers (from 3.1 to 2.5, pre to post-test).
Conclusions: Surpassed the goal of a 10% score improvement and reported comfort with musculoskeletal anatomy and physical exam comfort from pre to post test. Decision to integrate a foundational lecture series on musculoskeletal anatomy and physical exam maneuvers into the July-August didactic curriculum.
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