Is medical training adequate to promote health and give patients what they need? The role of Sport and Exercise Medicine in 21st century healthcare

GP specialty trainees' knowledge and values towards physical activity: a national survey of Scottish trainees

BACKGROUND

Despite the known benefits of physical activity (PA), one-third of adults in the UK fail to meet recommended levels of PA. PA promotion in primary care has been shown to be effective at improving PA in patients but implementation of PA promotion by GPs remains poor. Research has shown a need to improve PA education in undergraduate medical education, but, to the authors' knowledge, no review of postgraduate medical education has been performed.

AIM

To assess the knowledge and values of general practice specialist trainees (GPSTs) towards PA promotion in Scotland.

DESIGN & SETTING

Cross-sectional survey distributed to GPSTs in Scotland.

METHOD

A mixed-methods cross-sectional survey, informed by previous research, was developed and distributed to all (n = 1205) GPSTs in Scotland in December 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data. A content analysis of free-text responses was also performed.

RESULTS

A total of 168 GPSTs responded, representing 13.9% of all GPSTs in Scotland. Of responders, 93.5% reported no previous experience in the subject of sports and exercise science and medicine. Overall, 38.9% of responders stated they were unaware of the current UK PA guidelines, with 33.9% unable to correctly identify the UK PA guidelines when presented with multiple choice options. In addition, 83.3% felt they had been inadequately trained to deliver PA advice during their medical training.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights a lack of knowledge, confidence, and education in PA promotion in GPSTs in Scotland. Given the importance of primary prevention, this urgently needs to be addressed.

Online case-based educational meetings can increase knowledge, skills, and widen access to surgical training:The nationwideVirtualTrauma & Orthopaedic Meetingseries

BACKGROUND

Access to surgical training is challenging for undergraduate and early postgraduate trainees due to a greater focus on developing generic knowledge and skills, and a drive to recruit greater numbers into internal medicine and primary care. COVID-19 accelerated the declining access to surgical training environments. Our aims were to: 1) establish the feasibility of an online, specialty-specific, case-based surgical training series, and 2) evaluate its suitability for meeting the needs of trainees.

METHODS

A nationwide audience of undergraduate and early postgraduate trainees were invited to a series of bespoke online case-based educational meetings in Trauma & Orthopaedics (T&O) over a six month period. The six sessions, which simulated real-world clinical meetings, were constructed by Consultant sub-specialists and involved the presentation of cases by registrars, followed by structured discussion of basic principles, radiological interpretation, and management strategies. Mixed qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

There were 131 participants (59.5% male), consisting mostly of doctors in training (58%) and medical students (37.4%). The mean quality rating was 9.0/10 (SD 1.06), further supported by qualitative analysis. 98% enjoyed the sessions, 97% reported improved knowledge of T&O, and 94% reported a direct benefit to clinical practice. There was a significant improvement in knowledge of T&O conditions, management plans, and radiological interpretation (p = <0.05).

CONCLUSION

Structured virtual meetings, underpinned by bespoke clinical cases, may widen access to T&O training, increase flexibility and robustness of learning opportunities, and mitigate the effects of reduced exposure on preparation for surgical careers and recruitment.