The anaesthetic logbook--a survey.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anaesthesiology Training

Background:

• Specialist Registrar training duration extended to 5 years.
• Competency-based training is now a requirement.
• The Royal College of Anaesthetists defines competency as knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current use, value, and shortcomings of anaesthetic trainee logbooks.
• To assess if logbooks effectively record training for competency-based assessment.

Main Methods:

• National survey of anaesthetic trainees.
• Data collected on logbook usage, analysis, and assessment integration.

Main Results:

• All trainees used logbooks, but 81% faced issues with Intensive Care and 69% with Pain subspecialty recording.
• Less than 50% regularly analyzed logbooks; 67% of registrars had logbooks ignored in assessments.
• 97% of trainees did not believe logbooks assessed competency.

Conclusions:

• Current anaesthetic trainee logbooks are not perceived as effective tools for assessing competency.
• The study suggests a need to re-evaluate logbook utility and explore alternatives like Training Portfolios.