UK Junior Doctors Claim They Are Gaining Less Experience Of Common Practical Procedures

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Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 23 Aug 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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UK junior doctors who work in emergency care say that they are getting less experience of common practical procedures since training programs for UK doctors were shortened in 2005, according to an article in Emergency Medical Journal. Several experts had said that shortening training programs for junior doctors would lead to a reduction in competence and undermine the trainees'.

Seventeen junior doctors were studied in 2005 and then exactly one year later in 2006. They all worked in the emergency care department of a large teaching hospital.

They were asked about their experience in:

-- the manipulation of a wrist (Colles) fracture
-- the manipulation of a dislocated shoulder
-- suturing and exploring wounds
-- draining an abscess|
-- inserting a chest drain

They had to explain whether they felt confident, or had no experience at all in carrying out the procedures without assistance. 14 doctors responded in 2005 and 16 in 2006. They had all recently qualified and had been working in the emergency department for four months.

The 2006 group had less experience in all procedures, compared to the 2005 group. The authors believe they had less experience because they had been told not to carry them out until they had been taught how to do them - instead of learning on the job. The authors also believe that junior doctors are spending less time doing practical work and more time in formal teaching and assessments. It is also likely, say the writers, that more experienced and/or senior staff are carrying out these procedures - the aim being to get the job done faster, and consequently reducing waiting time targets.

Regardless of the reasons, say the authors, junior doctors need to be properly trained as they are a much needed resource in emergency care.

"Are emergency department junior doctors becoming less experienced in performing common practical procedures?"
Emerg Med J 2007; 24: 657-8
Click here to see abstract online

Written by: Christian Nordqvist

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