Journal of general internal medicine
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We assessed the impact of a 2-week required rotation in homeless health care on primary care residents' attitudes toward homeless people. Attitudes were assessed before and after the course using the Attitudes Toward Homelessness Inventory (ATHI), an instrument previously validated among undergraduate students. ⋯ The ATHI subscales showed, after the course, that residents had a greater belief that homelessness had societal causes and felt more comfortable affiliating with homeless people. After the course, residents also reported an increased interest in volunteering with homeless populations on an anonymous survey.
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The 80-hour workweek limit for residents provides an opportunity for residency directors to creatively innovate their programs. Our novel day-float rotation augmented both the educational structure within the inpatient team setting and the ability for house staff to complete their work within the mandated limits. ⋯ Educational portfolios and mentored peer-teaching opportunities enriched the rotation. As measured by our evaluation, this new rotation enhanced learning and patient care while reducing work hours for inpatient ward residents.