'Going the extra mile': Supervisors' perspectives on what makes a 'good' intern

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education
• Doctoral Training

Background:

• Existing research on medical intern readiness primarily focuses on undergraduate preparation and interns' self-perceptions.
• The transition from medical student to intern involves not only clinical competencies but also personal and organizational skills.
• Supervisors offer unique insights into intern performance and preparation, complementing existing literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore medical intern supervisors' views on the internship training context in South Africa.
• To identify attributes essential for interns to function optimally in the public health sector, from supervisors' perspectives.
• To expand the understanding of successful medical internships by incorporating supervisor viewpoints.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 27 semi-structured interviews with medical intern supervisors across 7 South African provinces.
• Employed thematic analysis to interpret interview data.
• Utilized the Work Readiness Scale framework for data reporting.

Main Results:

• Supervisors reported interns face challenges adapting to the new environment, long hours, and heavy workloads.
• Key attributes for intern success include clinical competencies, organizational acumen, social intelligence, and personal characteristics.
• Diligence, reliability, self-discipline, and a willingness to exceed expectations were identified as vital qualities for 'good' interns.
• Essential organizational skills include triage, prioritization, and active participation, alongside social skills like teamwork and adaptability.

Conclusions:

• This study provides novel insights into successful medical internships by examining supervisors' frontline experiences in South Africa's public health sector.
• Findings aim to foster dialogue on optimizing intern preparation for workplace realities.
• Stakeholders including educational institutions, health services, and interns must collaborate to cultivate and support essential intern attributes.