Foundation doctors’ experience of their training: a questionnaire study

Abstract

Summary Objectives We set out to evaluate the impact of Foundation Year (FY) training on the doctors who had been through this training system. Design Doctors in training were surveyed using a structured web-based questionnaire. Setting Postgraduate training in the UK has been the subject of much upheaval in recent years. Participants A total of 1065 doctors in training were surveyed in late 2011 and early 2012, of which 638 were current FY doctors. Main outcome measures The survey was both quantitative and qualitative, focusing on selection, working hours, training quality, training assessments and the regulation of training. Results A majority of current FY trainees worked extra weekly hours with the breakdown being: 5–10 hrs (54%), 10–15 hrs (17%), >15 hrs (9%) and no extra weekly hours (20%). All current FY trainees wanted to work for more than 40 h a week with the following breakdown of desired hours: per week 40–48 (22%), 48–60 (50%) and 60–70 h (19%). The average hours per week spent clerking emergency admissions by current FY trainees were as follows: zero hours (11%), 0–5 h (37%), 5–10 h (30%), 10–15 h (11%) and greater (11%). A large majority (90%) felt that it was possible for incompetent trainees to obtain satisfactory results from assessments and that the FY training program was poor at identifying failing trainees. There were high levels of dissatisfaction with the selection process. Conclusions FY training appears to be failing in several key areas with the lack of emergency exposure a particular area of concern. It is essential that any future reforms of training address these problem areas.