An effective procedure skills training programme for GIM registrars

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Skills Training
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• The Royal College of Physicians recommends procedural training for medical registrars.
• The Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board outlines essential procedures for training.
• There is a recognized need for standardized procedural training in acute care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the interest and need for procedural training among medical registrars.
• To pilot a simulation-based training program for general internal medicine (GIM) registrars.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of simulation training in improving procedural confidence and perceived patient safety.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to GIM trainees in the Thames Valley Deanery.
• A simulation program was piloted for GIM registrars over a 2-month period.
• Trainee and trainer feedback was collected after each simulation session.

Main Results:

• A significant need for procedural skills training was identified among trainees.
• Ninety percent of trainees believed simulation training would enhance their confidence.
• Post-training confidence scores improved significantly, with 90% feeling it would improve on-call safety.

Conclusions:

• Simulation training is an effective method for improving trainee confidence in procedural skills.
• This pilot study demonstrates that simulation training is both desired and necessary for higher specialty training.
• Further research is warranted to evaluate the long-term impact on skill maintenance and patient safety.