Resident confidence addressing social history: Is it influenced by availability of social and legal resources?

Background. Pediatric residency clinics caring for underserved populations are often staffed with varying levels of social and legal resources, though their effects on residents' knowledge and practice have not been studied. Aim. To examine the effects of clinic-based social and legal resources on resident knowledge and screening patterns for social determinants of health. Methods. A cross-sectional study of residents from 3 continuity clinics with different social and legal resources was performed. Resident surveys assessing their knowledge and screening practices, and direct observation of social history taking was compared. Results. Forty resident surveys revealed that those from clinics with more social and legal resources had greater confidence in their knowledge, screened more frequently, and spent more time taking social histories as assessed on direct observation. Conclusions. Residents who practiced in continuity clinics with increased social and legal resources were more confident in their knowledge and screened for social determinants of health more frequently.