• T Dirk Younker, Lydia A Conlay, Nancy S Searle, Myrna Khan, Sally R Raty, Sheriff Afifi, Donna Martin, Brian Zimmerman, Jerry L Epps, Paige Rinehardt, M Christine Stock, and Christopher Zell.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
• Teach Learn Med. 2009 Jan 1;21(1):20-3.

BackgroundThe internship or first year (PGY 1) of anesthesiology training may be categorical (within anesthesiology), or obtained in more diverse settings. Revisions recently proposed in the training requirements incorporated the PGY 1 into the existing curriculum.PurposesWe studied whether this change improved measurable outcomes.MethodsThere were 518 residents studied retrospectively from four institutions that offered entry following both "Categorical" and "Other" internships. Thus the training in clinical anesthesia was identical.ResultsNo differences were observed in percentile scores on the Anesthesiology In-Service Training Examination during clinical anesthesia training, the receipt of awards, board certification or time to certification, or in reports of unsatisfactory performance to the American Board of Anesthesiology. "Categorical" residents were more frequently appointed chief resident.ConclusionsEasily accessible performance measures may function as valuable aids in decision making, particularly when significant changes in curricula are contemplated. Data do not support the proposed changes in anesthesiology.

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