Sharing knowledge, saving time: an online toolbox to aid junior doctors.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Informatics
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Junior doctors face challenges accessing critical information for referrals, investigations, and professional contacts.
• Significant knowledge loss occurs during the August rotation, impacting handover efficiency and patient safety.
• An unmet need exists for effective knowledge retention strategies in hospital settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a website, the "Doctors Directory," to address junior doctor information needs.
• To improve the retention of knowledge and facilitate smoother, safer handovers.
• To reduce the time junior doctors spend on administrative tasks.

Main Methods:

• A website, the "Doctors Directory," was created by junior doctors for junior doctors within a specific trust.
• The site provides up-to-date information, including a "survival guide" for hospital firms.
• Junior doctors were surveyed before and after the website's implementation to assess its impact.

Main Results:

• 81% of first-year junior doctors (FY1s) utilized the "Doctors Directory."
• 94% of users found the website helpful, reporting an average daily time saving of 39 minutes.
• The site, now mobile-accessible, receives an average of 60 daily hits.

Conclusions:

• The "Doctors Directory" website effectively addresses junior doctors' needs for accessible information.
• This quality improvement project demonstrates scalability to other hospitals.
• Implementing such resources allows junior doctors to dedicate more time to patient care by reducing time spent on administrative tasks.