Increases in resident and faculty computing skills between 1998 and 2001

Background and Objectives: Following a 1998 survey, we hypothesized that family practice residents would soon demand more advanced informatics and computer training than faculty could provide. We repeated the survey in 2001 to test our hypothesis. Methods: We surveyed 97 first-year medical students, 46 family practice residents, and 18 family medicine faculty at our institution. We compared responses among groups and within groups since 1998. Results: Significantly more respondents owned a computer in 2001 than in 1998. E-mail and Internet use increased dramatically for all groups. Students and faculty had significantly greater confidence in their general computer abilities than residents did in 2001, but third-year residents' confidence had increased significantly since 1998. Respondents cited inadequate computer resources as the most important barrier to effective computer use. Conclusions: Resident and faculty self-assessed computer skills have increased substantially at our program since 1998. These increases appear due to the current ubiquity of computers in society and improvements in device functionality and ease of use rather than curricular activities. Few residents and faculty need the basic computer training recommended in curricular guidelines. Residency programs should maintain up-to-date computer resources and consider providing selective advanced computer skills training.