Development of an advocacy curriculum in a pediatric residency program

Background: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education now requires pediatric residency programs to include advocacy training, but few guidelines for development exist. Purpose: To determine faculty and resident attitudes regarding advocacy training, and to develop consensus on the best method to teach and learn advocacy. Methods: Pediatric residents (n = 28) andfaculty (n = 51) participated in a survey about experience and training in advocacy, identified issues important to address in an advocacy curriculum, and rated a variety of learning methods. Results: Nearly 90% of residents felt advocacy training was needed, and 82% felt advocacy activities would continue following residency. Faculty and residents agreed that participation in short-term or longitudinal projects was the best way to teach and learn advocacy skills. Respondents identified and ranked 45 issues to address through advocacy efforts and training, and these results were used to develop and implement an advocacy curriculum. Conclusions: Residents and faculty were interested in incorporating an advocacy curriculum, and survey results were used to guide curriculum development.