Teaching in the clinical setting: factors influencing residents' perceptions, confidence and behaviour.

Because residents are expected to assume a significant share of the teaching responsibilities of peers and students, the authors surveyed first-, second- and third-year paediatric residents at the Children's Hospital National Medical Center in July 1979 to examine those factors influencing their perceptions, confidence and behaviour with regard to teaching. The experimental group received 8 hours of instruction on teaching and learning, which included workshops and feedback sessions. The results indicate that a limited amount of formal instruction in teaching can effect a change in the teaching attitudes and behaviour of residents in addition to their level of confidence and the way in which teachers, students and peers evaluate them.