738 - Evaluation of the Pediatric Nephrology Resident Handbook: Utilization and Impact

Publication Number: 3714.738

Abeer Bargawi, Maternity and Children Hospital, Dammam, Ash Sharqiyah, Saudi Arabia; Elif Bilgic, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Tania Cellucci, McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Charushree Prasad, McMaster University, Oakville, ON, Canada; Abdulla Alblooshi, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Background: Learners at various levels of training often cite nephrology as a challenging specialty to understand. The "Pediatric Nephrology Resident Handbook" was developed as a clinical resource to support residents during nephrology related clinical encounters. The handbook has been freely available on the Canadian Association of Pediatric Nephrologists (CAPN) website (as open access medical education) since February 8th,2022 and the webpage has received over 10 000 hits from 6152 users in 109 countries (Source: Google Analytics) (Figure 1).

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the relevance, usability, user context, and user satisfaction for the Pediatric Nephrology Resident Handbook nationally.

Design/Methods: An online survey was conducted across Canada to collect anonymous feedback on the Pediatric Nephrology Resident Handbook. The participants were pediatric residents, and pediatric and adult nephrology fellows.

Results: Out of the 37 participants who completed the survey, 92% were pediatric residents and 8% were pediatric and adult nephrology fellows. Respondents represented several provinces, most commonly Ontario (35%) and Manitoba (30%). Almost all (97%) reported access to a local pediatric nephrologist. Over half first heard about the handbook from other residents (57%), while one third learned about it during nephrology rotations (32%). The handbook was widely used, with 70% referring to it more than 10 times (Figure 2). Overall impressions were very positive. In terms of purpose, the handbook was most used for general background reading (84%) and teaching junior learners (78%), with about two-thirds also using it for licensing exams (65%) or as a reference after graduation (65%). Among the four content sections, Section 2 (Acute kidney injury, proteinuria, hypertension, hematuria) was the most highly rated with 68% rating it as very helpful. The majority strongly agreed that the handbook was a helpful tool for approaching nephrology problems (76%), and 81% strongly agreed they were satisfied and would recommend it to colleagues (Figure 3). Finally, 27% provided specific suggestions for improvement, including adding more visuals (pictures, flow charts, diagrams), increasing clinical depth, and providing an appendix for advanced learners.

Conclusion(s): The Pediatric Nephrology Resident Handbook is a valued, practical, guideline-based resource that supports trainees in pediatric nephrology. Adding more visuals, expanding clinical content, and offering a mobile-friendly format could further enhance its usefulness.

Figure 1. International Use of the Pediatric Nephrology Resident Handbook
The pediatric nephrology resident handbook page has been viewed by over 6000 users in 109 countries around the world.

Figure 2. Frequency and Contexts of Resident Handbook Use


Figure 3. Resident Satisfaction with Handbook