Impact of a structured training and support program on junior doctors’ participation in clinical audits

Abstract

Abstract Background Despite the large number of medical graduates who start their career as interns only a few interns are involved in Clinical Audits and quality improvement due to the lack of audit related teaching and a structured program to guide interns through the audit process. CATS Program Initiative The clinical audit Training and Support (CATS) Program is an initiative to educate interns and promote their participation in Clinical Audits and quality improvement through the implementation of a learner centred curriculum that values self-directed, experiential and situated learning. The CATS program was to run over a period of 3 months. During that time, the interns enrolled in the program were expected to have successfully completed one PDSA cycle of clinical audit. Methodology A non-randomized quasi experimental pre-test post-test study was designed to assess the effect of the CATS program in improving the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the interns towards clinical audits and quality improvement. This was a survey study using questionnaire prior to the initial lecture and 3 weeks later. A voluntary convenient sampling was used as the CATS program was a non-mandatory training initiative for the interns. Results There were 31 and 30 Interns who rotated through various medical and surgical jobs. Following ethical approval, the initial lecture on the audit was delivered on 08.09.22, and the post-test was 2 weeks later. The post-test knowledge score following the initial lecture was significantly higher than the pre-test score. The attitude of interns towards clinical audit and quality improvement were neutral and remained unchanged following the CATS initiative. Higher proportion of interns were actively involved in clinical audits following the CATS initiative. Conclusion Audit-related teaching to junior doctors at the beginning of their career as hospital doctors can help them recall audit-related knowledge and learn local quality improvement policies. Although junior doctors want to be involved in quality improvement initiatives, their attitude towards clinical audits remains neutral due to lack of time, training and support. A structured training and support program for junior doctors promotes their participation in quality improvement initiatives and improves service outcome measures.