Context: High levels of anxiety have been reported among trainee doctors as they make the important and often stressful transition from medical school to their FY1 (foundation year) post.
Objectives: To explore the extent to which the induction week training meets the challenges, needs and concerns facing newly qualified doctors.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 10 newly qualified doctors recruited across three foundation schools in the UK. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was chosen as a methodological approach well-suited to a smaller group sample where the emphasis is placed upon exploring individual perceptions and experiences from an ‘insider’ perspective.
Results: Self-reported anxiety was high among participants to this study and related to perceived levels of preparedness as well as concerns to be a ‘good competent doctor’ who could ‘fit into the team’ and ‘not let the team down.’ Fears and concerns regarding new levels of responsibility and the timing of such responsibility, especially in relation to prescribing and patient safety were also commonplace. More shadowing and less administrative input prior to starting their first FY1 post was seen as the best way to offset anxieties surrounding this transition.
Conclusion: This study highlights regional differences reflecting differing levels of preparedness for FY1 and differing qualitative experiences of shadowing. This raises important issues about the uniformity of medical training across the UK and calls for further research to explore regional variations in the content, duration and quality of induction training.