Attitudes towards attrition among UK trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology

Abstract

Physician dissatisfaction in the workplace has consequences for patient safety. Currently in the UK, 1 in 5 doctors who enter specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology leave the programme before completion. Trainee attrition has implications for workforce planning, organization of health-care services and patient care. The authors conducted a survey of current trainees' and former trainees' views concerning attrition and 'peri-attrition' - a term coined to describe the trainee who has seriously considered leaving the specialty. The authors identified six key themes which describe trainees' feelings about attrition in obstetrics and gynaecology: morale and undermining; training processes and paperwork; support and supervision; work-life balance and realities of life; NHS environment; and job satisfaction. This article discusses themes of an under-resourced health service, bullying, lack of work-life balance and poor personal support.

Managing burnout in obstetrics and gynaecology

“…The 2017 national RCOG Workforce Survey has shown a 30% attrition rate during obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) training. A questionnaire survey of O&G trainees in North London noted that 80% of respondents had considered leaving the specialty (which corresponded to 24% of regional trainees in the specialty). The main factors contributing to this were rota issues, undermining and the emotional burden of the specialty.…”

Simulation training: our passport to a successful future in medicine

“…Maternity services are regularly subjected to negative reports in the media, further adversely impacting staff morale along with the escalating confrontational blame culture around the medicolegal landscape. These factors have led to growing attrition rates among trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology,11 reduced training time for those working in the area despite the little amendment to the length, scope or methods of education in our training programmes 12…”

The key features of highly effective training units in obstetrics and gynaecology

“…National feedback on O&G training is regularly collected via the General Medical Council (GMC) Survey, the RCOG Training Evaluation Form (TEF) and the RCOG Trainee Attrition and Workforce Survey. These have identified the key reasons for trainee attrition as low morale and undermining, training processes and paperwork, support and supervision, work–life balance, NHS environment and job satisfaction . A recent study assessing factors that may reduce trainee attrition identified the following key themes: being valued as an individual, flexibility and predictability, standardisation and transparency in processes to promote fairness, access to quality support, and learning‐focused training .…”