Assessing the preparedness of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors during the transition from medical school to the Foundation Training Programme

Abstract

Background: To assess how ready current FY1 doctors felt when they started their first posting as newly qualified doctors. Methods: We created an online survey where 45 FY1 doctors in South Yorkshire rated how confident they were across different domains (induction and assistantship, hospital systems, and skills) using a scale ranging from 0 (no confidence in performing task) to 5 (highly confident in performing task). Results: Responses showed that the ICE system and observations had a mean rating of 3.645 (95% CI 3.45 to 3.86), 4.425 (95% CI 4.25 to 4.6) with a standard deviation (SD) of 1.1 and 0.83 respectively. The radiological viewing platform, referral system, telephone system, and hospital notes had a mean score of 3.149 (95% CI 2.88 to 3.42), 2.341 (95% CI 2.1 to 2.58), 3.573 (95% CI 3.41 to 3.74) and 4.061 (95% CI 3.93 to 4.19), with a SD of 1.281, 1.154, 0.961 and 0.752 respectively. FY1’s wanted more training on referrals [(84.09%(n=37)) and use of phones [43.2% (n=19)]. Vital observations and diagnostic procedures scored a mean score of 3.933 (95% CI 3.75 to 4.12) and 4.251 (95% CI 4.14 to 4.36) with a SD of 1.19 and 0.944 respectively. The patient care category, the prescribing category and therapeutic procedures gave a mean score of 3.634 (95% CI 3.44 to 3.83), 4.13 (95% CI 3.96 to 4.3), 3.386 (95% CI 3.23 to 3.54) and an SD of 1.128, 0.954 and 1.253 respectively.Conclusion: Overall, junior doctors are confident in most tasks and jobs expected of them. A greater sample size would enable us to compare how different medical schools and deaneries aid this transition.

Ten tips for organising a Bleep Roulette for final year medical students and new foundation trainees

“…Graduating medical students and newly qualified junior doctors often report struggling with heightened responsibility and the emphasis on ‘non-technical skills’ such as prioritisation and clinical reasoning. 1 2 Unsurprisingly, descriptions of stress and anxiety related to commencing clinical practice 3 4 and on-call shifts 1 2 5–7 have also been documented. Shadowing placements, assistantships and workplace induction are some of the initiatives offered by medical schools and foundation programmes to ease the transition into clinical practice; yet, recent studies suggest that graduates still lack confidence and remain unprepared for completing the tasks required of a new junior doctor.…”

“…Shadowing placements, assistantships and workplace induction are some of the initiatives offered by medical schools and foundation programmes to ease the transition into clinical practice; yet, recent studies suggest that graduates still lack confidence and remain unprepared for completing the tasks required of a new junior doctor. 4 6 8 9 On-call and out-of-hour shifts can be particularly challenging and rely on the effective use of clinical and non-technical skills. 5 6…”