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Postgraduate Medical Journal 2001;77:650-653; doi:10.1136/pmj.77.912.650
Copyright © 2001 The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine.
Postgrad Med J 2001;77:650-653 ( October )

Formal education programmes for senior house officers: comparison of experience in three hospital specialties

A Fletta, M Bakera, J Williamsb

a Centre for Postgraduate and Continuing Medical Education, Medical School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK, b Division of General Practice, Medical School, University of Nottingham

Correspondence to: Dr Flett andy.flett{at}nottingham.ac.uk

Submitted 30 October 2000; Accepted 27 March 2001

This study was designed to compare the attendance rate of senior house officers (SHOs) in three specialties at formal educational events, examine experiences of protected time, use of educational objectives, and perceived barriers to attendance and evaluate differences found in the context of variations in training practice within each specialty. A quantitative questionnaire survey was completed by Trent region SHOs in obstetrics and gynaecology, general medicine, and accident and emergency posts. An independent researcher visited a selection of educational programme events over a two month span, recorded attendances, and administered the questionnaire. Attendance rates ranged from 40.8% of those in obstetrics and gynaecology jobs to 55.4% of those in accident and emergency jobs. The questionnaire findings found that service commitments were a major obstacle to attendance for the majority of those in obstetrics and gynaecology and general medicine jobs, while relatively few of the accident and emergency SHOs specified any barriers. SHOs in accident and emergency jobs had significantly more protected time for education and found educational objectives to be more widely used by senior staff. The findings suggest that the planned integration of formal education programmes with appropriate working pattern systems---in this case full shifts within accident and emergency departments---will result in SHOs receiving a better deal in terms of provision and structure of education.


Key points

  • A selected sample of formal education programme meetings attracted fewer than half of the SHOs they were provided for. Overall attendance rates varied between 55.4% and 40.1% across the three specialties targeted.
  • SHOs training in accident and emergency departments reported better experiences in their educational programmes than those in general medicine and obstetrics and gynaecology departments. More use was made of educational objectives and protected time, and service commitments were less likely to impede attendance at educational events.
  • Use of carefully integrated full shift working patterns would appear to benefit the formal education of the SHO within the prevailing medical environment of accident and emergency medicine.
  • Working pattern systems in operation within hospital departments must be appraised in order to establish their effect on the provision of education for SHOs and the standards defined in The Early Years.




Keywords: education programmes; senior house officers

© 2001 by The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine
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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Carr, S (2003). Education of senior house officers: current challenges. Postgrad. Med. J. 79: 622-626 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

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