Open AccessAll Poster Abstracts
Author(s) -
R. Kaufmann,
V Zwart,
J. Jeekel,
Johan F. Lange,
H. A. Martino Neumann,
Michal Smolski,
Rafał Turo,
Gary S. Collins,
Ahmad A. Mirza,
Karim Sillah,
Emily Griffith,
Simon Galloway,
Ian Welch,
John F. Lancashire,
A. R. Jones,
Haakon Bergh,
Flavia Huygens,
Graeme R. Nimmo,
David Kerr,
Emma Aitken,
David Kingsmore,
James L. Gutmann,
Wojciech Konczalik,
E Senver,
Sudeep Banerjee,
S. Mukherjee,
Robert Padwick,
Ali Bajwa,
Annabel Shaw,
James Francombe,
Michael Stellakis,
Jane Warwick,
Olivia Will,
Ronald Miller,
Stephen W. Duffy,
David Greenberg
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.202
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1365-2168
pISSN - 0007-1323
DOI - 10.1002/bjs.9239
Subject(s) - medicine , general surgery , medical physics
Background: There is concern in the medical literature that reduced work hours as a result of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) is detrimental to surgical training due to reduction in workplace-based training opportunities. This is supported by literature suggesting that learning theories applicable to surgical training include social learning and constructivism, and that surgeons are ‘hands-on’, practical learners. However, there is no conclusive evidence that reduced hours is detrimental to surgical training, and this study aims to explore whether this is indeed the case. Methods: A series of one-to-one semi-structured interviews were performed with Year 5 and 6 Specialist Registrars in General Surgery on the West Midlands Higher Surgical Training scheme. Nine interviews were performed before thematic saturation was reached. Interview transcripts were then thematically analysed in NVivo 9. Results: Participants perceive the EWTD to have reduced training opportunities due to reduced hours, a change to working shifts as opposed to 24-hour on-calls and the introduction of timetabled days off into on-call rotas in order to make them EWTD-compliant, which is largely being used in order to gain further training opportunities. Trainees are attending courses and going on Fellowships in order to augment training. There is a difference in opinion as to what constitutes training and what constitutes service provision. Trainees perceive that shift-working leads to increased fatigue and a disruption to life outside of work. Conclusion: Overall perceptions are of a detrimental effect upon training opportunities for a variety of reasons, which is consistent with the current literature. New theory has been generated regarding the perceptions of service and training activities, and the differences between 24-hour on-calls and shifts upon fatigue, which could be explored further with quantitative methodologies