Learning needs of junior doctors in otolaryngology: a qualitative study

There is concern that junior doctors are not prepared for their post-graduate attachments in ENT. The aims of this study were to capture the learning priorities of those in the ENT first on-call role and facilitate further educational opportunities to address these needs.

Semi-structured interviews were undertaken to explore the learning needs of junior doctors with seven junior and two senior ENT clinicians.

The thematic analysis generated three themes: the role of the ENT Junior; the perceived, expressed and prescribed learning needs; and attitudes towards future learning. These themes explored the misalignment between undergraduate training and post-graduate expectations, the lack of competence in ENT practical skills and the need for focused ENT training prior to commencing on-call shifts.

All interviewees identified the need for greater experience in practical interventional skills prior to their ENT attachments and expressed interest towards a standardised, bootcamp-style induction with simulated emergency experience.