Do IMT doctors receive adequate training to feel confident performing clinical procedures?

Abstract

IMT (Internal Medicine Training) is the training programme for doctors desiring a career in a medical specialty post-foundation training, and includes rotations in various specialities, such as acute medicine, cardiology and gerontology. As this training prepares them to become medical registrars, equipping them with the skills needed to manage various patient presentations, they are expected to perform a range of clinical procedures. The Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians' Training Board (JRCPTB) sets the clinical competency requirements and targets to progress and complete the programme. At University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, we are assessing IMT doctors’ confidence levels in performing key procedural skills to meet JRCPTB targets, and their satisfaction with the teaching provided. This project is an anonymous online survey, with voluntary participation by doctors in all stages of IMT assessing their own confidence levels and satisfaction pertaining to teaching sessions skill-by-skill, answering the questions from an array of multiple-choice options. The aims of this project include examining whether teaching targets are being met, identifying gaps in teaching, and ascertaining potential improvements for the training programme, with the ultimate objective of improving patient outcomes and safety. As this is an ongoing study, no conclusions can be established so far. However, the data collected thus far suggests that some IMT doctors are not meeting the targets set out by the JRCPTB and are dissatisfied with the teaching of the training programme, highlighting potential unmet needs of the programme.