Advancing confidence and competence in junior doctors: specialist medicine weekend teaching programme
Introduction: The University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) Specialist Medicine Weekend Teaching Programme supports postgraduate doctors in maintaining high standards of medical practice, as outlined by the General Medical Council (GMC).1 It was designed to help postgraduate doctors enhance their abil...
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
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Series: | Future Healthcare Journal |
Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2514664525001481 |
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Summary: | Introduction: The University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) Specialist Medicine Weekend Teaching Programme supports postgraduate doctors in maintaining high standards of medical practice, as outlined by the General Medical Council (GMC).1 It was designed to help postgraduate doctors enhance their ability to manage acute medical presentations (Fig 1), contributing to the overall improvement of patient care. With a primary focus on acute medicine, this voluntary ongoing programme provides doctors working in specialist medicine at UHL with essential clinical and non-clinical skills.2 Method: The programme consists of 45 online sessions (60–90 min each) spread across 10 months, covering various clinical topics alongside non-clinical skills, such as leadership, communication and medical education. It employs a combination of flipped learning and blended learning approaches.3,4 Sessions are delivered via Zoom/MS Teams and complemented by asynchronous learning through social media groups.Additionally, all sessions are recorded and uploaded to a dedicated link, ensuring accessibility for those who missed them. Doctors below ST4 levels are eligible to enrol, although certification depends on meeting strict criteria. Programme effectiveness is assessed via surveys, with most questions ranked from 1 to 10 (1 being the lowest), with some open-ended responses.5 Results: Work satisfaction as a doctor saw a substantial increase of 47%. Before the programme, scores ranged from as low as 1, while later, the lowest recorded score was 7. Confidence in working within the NHS showed a marked improvement of 31%, as did handling difficult conversations, showing an increase of 30% in confidence. Similarly, communication skills improved by 25%.Confidence in leading and conducting audits or quality improvement projects and leadership saw one of the most dramatic improvements, rising from 5.28 to 8.7 (a 67% increase). Teaching skills improved notably by 47% and confidence in presenting a poster at a conference increased to 61%. Understanding of the internal medicine training (IMT)/higher speciality training (HST) application points system significantly improved, with the average score increasing from 5.03 to 8.6 (72%), while preparedness for an IMT/HST interview saw a 126% rise.The overall quality of the programme was rated at an impressive 9.7 out of 10, with the majority of participants giving it a perfect 10. The lowest rating recorded was 8, indicating that all participants found the programme to be highly beneficial and effective. Subsequent results highlight the significant positive impact on participants’ confidence, knowledge and skills, reinforcing the value of structured training and support.Participants praised the programme's excellent curriculum, organisation and communication, especially valuing the practical knowledge and case-based discussions. It was commended for its clarity and enthusiasm. Suggestions for improvement included offering evening sessions, incorporating multiple choice questions and enhancing access to recordings. Conclusion: The survey results clearly demonstrate the significant impact of the programme in enhancing participants’ confidence, skills, and overall preparedness for their roles as doctors by the rise of 54.8% in non-clinical skills and 62.56% in clinical teachings.6Participants reported increased confidence, job satisfaction, communication and leadership. Significant gains were seen in audits, conference presentations and specialty training applications. Overwhelmingly positive feedback highlights the programme’s effectiveness in professional development, benefiting both doctors and the healthcare system. |
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ISSN: | 2514-6645 |