TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical Investigator Training Program (CITP) – A practical and pragmatic approach to conveying clinical investigator competencies and training to busy clinicians
AU - Saleh, Mansoor
AU - Naik, Gurudatta
AU - Jester, Penelope
AU - Joiner, Cynthia
AU - Westfall, Elizabeth
AU - Kimberlin, David W.
AU - Willig, James
AU - Redden, David
AU - Southworth, Juliette
AU - Dransfield, Mark T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020
PY - 2020/9
Y1 - 2020/9
N2 - Introduction: Clinical investigation is a critical component of clinical medicine. Yet, other than mentorship by an experienced senior physician, young physicians have few formal training opportunities that fit into their clinical training and convey the pre-requisite clinical investigator competencies. To address this training gap, we designed the Clinical Investigator Training Program (CITP); a practical and pragmatic curriculum weaved into the constant pressures of balancing patient care with academic pursuit required of the academic practitioner. Methods: Between January 2016 and December 2018, we conducted four CITP courses, with each comprised of four 4-h sessions that included didactic lectures, group projects including the development of a mock clinical protocol, and expert's panel discussions. Each course enrolled 15 participants from an average of 28 applicants. We assessed the knowledge acquired following each course via a pre- and post-course test (t-test with positive scores indicating improvement in knowledge base). In addition, we also tracked which participants became first time principal investigator following completion of CITP. Results: A total of 60 participants enrolled in the 4 CITP courses, and there was a statistically significant improvement in mean post-test scores (p < 0.01). The number of participants achieving first time principal investigator status nearly doubled following CITP from 17 to 33. Conversely, applicants not selected for CITP demonstrated no similar improvement during the same follow up period. Conclusion: The improvement in test scores and the substantive uptake in first time principal investigator responsibilities following CITP affirms that CITP provides a viable option to convey investigator competencies and encourage clinicians to take on the role of principal investigators.
AB - Introduction: Clinical investigation is a critical component of clinical medicine. Yet, other than mentorship by an experienced senior physician, young physicians have few formal training opportunities that fit into their clinical training and convey the pre-requisite clinical investigator competencies. To address this training gap, we designed the Clinical Investigator Training Program (CITP); a practical and pragmatic curriculum weaved into the constant pressures of balancing patient care with academic pursuit required of the academic practitioner. Methods: Between January 2016 and December 2018, we conducted four CITP courses, with each comprised of four 4-h sessions that included didactic lectures, group projects including the development of a mock clinical protocol, and expert's panel discussions. Each course enrolled 15 participants from an average of 28 applicants. We assessed the knowledge acquired following each course via a pre- and post-course test (t-test with positive scores indicating improvement in knowledge base). In addition, we also tracked which participants became first time principal investigator following completion of CITP. Results: A total of 60 participants enrolled in the 4 CITP courses, and there was a statistically significant improvement in mean post-test scores (p < 0.01). The number of participants achieving first time principal investigator status nearly doubled following CITP from 17 to 33. Conversely, applicants not selected for CITP demonstrated no similar improvement during the same follow up period. Conclusion: The improvement in test scores and the substantive uptake in first time principal investigator responsibilities following CITP affirms that CITP provides a viable option to convey investigator competencies and encourage clinicians to take on the role of principal investigators.
KW - Academic
KW - Clinical investigation
KW - Outcome
KW - Training program
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086799464&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.conctc.2020.100589
DO - 10.1016/j.conctc.2020.100589
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85086799464
SN - 2451-8654
VL - 19
JO - Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications
JF - Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications
M1 - 100589
ER -