Ward rounds: can an aide-memoire help new doctors?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Practice
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Ward rounds are essential for inpatient care, with newly graduated doctors often expected to lead them independently.
• There is a lack of research on the frequency of this practice and the preparedness of junior doctors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how often newly graduated doctors conduct ward rounds alone.
• To assess their preparedness for leading ward rounds.
• To evaluate the impact of an aide-memoire on preparedness and care aspects.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to Foundation Year-1 (FY1) doctors before and after the introduction of an aide-memoire.
• The survey assessed the frequency of conducting ward rounds alone, perceived preparedness, and consideration of 13 key care aspects.
• Response rates were 42% in 2015 and 52% in 2016.

Main Results:

• In 2015, 84% of FY1s reported conducting ward rounds alone weekly, with only 5% feeling prepared.
• After implementing the aide-memoire in 2016, 32% of FY1s felt prepared, a 27% increase.
• A statistically significant increase was observed in considering nutrition, mobility, and discharge planning.

Conclusions:

• Newly graduated doctors frequently conduct ward rounds independently and often feel unprepared.
• An aide-memoire is a low-cost intervention that can enhance preparedness and improve attention to critical care elements.
• Further development and wider implementation of such tools are recommended.