Objective:

This is a needs assessment for gaps and interest in EMG/NCS training among neurology residents at a large academic medical center.

Background:

Per ACGME guidelines, graduating neurology residents should be able to “formulate basic NCS/EMG plans and interpret data for common clinical presentations.” However, according to several surveys, only 20-40% of residents feel they graduate with that level of comfort. Practical, hands-on experience is known to be particularly helpful for learning procedures, and neurophysiology (EMG) and neuromuscular fellows as well as PM&R residents routinely perform EMG/NCS informally on each other to familiarize themselves with the procedure and the patient experience.

Design/Methods:

We designed and distributed a survey through REDCap to neurology residents at NYU. This assessed levels of comfort with EMG/NCS and peripheral anatomy as well as levels of interest in more hands-on experience and learning. This survey was distributed towards the end of the academic year to all classes.

Results:

Of those surveyed, none believed they met ACGME Milestone 4 for EMG analysis, and a majority believed that they did not meet Milestone 2 (“Identifies NCS/EMG findings for common disorders”), regardless of year of training. Only 9% of those surveyed felt their current level of hands-on NCS/EMG training was sufficient. Most also felt that they would have benefited from an educational primer before the rotation. Finally, residents expressed high interest in performing NCS/EMG on a patient, colleague, or, indeed, themselves. Free response answers emphasized a desire for more consolidated, easily-accessible resources and hands-on experience with neurophysiology techniques.

Conclusions:

Surveyed neurology residents expressed little comfort with EMG/NCS knowledge and interpretation and high interest in more resources and hands-on education. Based on these results, we plan to incorporate an educational primer and more hands-on experience into the NCS/EMG rotation.