Practically prepared? Pre-intern student views following an education package.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Skills Training
• Internship Preparation

Background:

• Graduating medical students possess variable practical procedural skills.
• Medical schools implement intensive skill training courses before graduation to bridge this gap.
• This study evaluates a pre-intern (PrInt) education package combining a short course and clinical attachment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the pre-intern (PrInt) education package on medical students' practical skills.
• To measure changes in knowledge, experience, and confidence in essential internship skills.

Main Methods:

• A pre-intern (PrInt) education package was delivered to 53 medical students.
• The package included three days of intensive training (didactic, case-based, workshops) followed by a four-week clinical attachment.
• A six-domain questionnaire assessed skills before and after the program.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant increases were observed in experience, ability, knowledge, and confidence across several domains.
• Key improvements included knowledge of pharmacy skills (p ≤ 0.0001) and management of procedural skills (p ≤ 0.0001).
• Some areas, like nasogastric tube insertion and emergency management, showed persistent low confidence levels post-training.

Conclusions:

• The pre-intern (PrInt) educational package was perceived by final-year students as highly beneficial.
• The program effectively improved practical skills crucial for a successful internship.
• Further refinement may be needed to address specific skill deficits identified post-intervention.