The internship year in the RSA--a need for change

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Internship Programs
• Healthcare Workforce Training

Background:

• The compulsory internship year is a critical phase for medical graduates in South Africa.
• Previous assessments of the internship year's effectiveness and challenges were limited.
• Understanding intern experiences is vital for medical training quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey interns completing their compulsory year in South Africa during 1982-1983.
• To identify key problem areas and challenges faced by interns.
• To evaluate the impact of the internship year and South African Medical and Dental Council (SAMDC) regulations.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide questionnaire survey was distributed to all interns in South Africa.
• Data was collected from 978 respondents, achieving an approximate 85% response rate.
• Analysis focused on identifying prevalent issues and evaluating training effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Significant challenges were identified, including excessive working hours.
• Insufficient opportunities for practicing required procedures were reported.
• Heavy clerical duties, lack of formal training, and negative professional attitudes were prominent issues.

Conclusions:

• The internship year requires significant improvements to enhance training effectiveness.
• Addressing issues like workload, practical experience, and formal training is crucial.
• Recommendations are proposed for optimizing the internship program and SAMDC regulation application.