Assessment of basic surgical trainees: can we do more?

Introduction: Changes to surgical training and reduction of junior doctors' working hours has resulted in trainees spending less time in surgical specialties before becoming eligible to apply for specialist registrar posts. A high quality basic surgical training programme is needed to improve the competence of trainees during their shortened period, an essential part of which is to conduct a formal assessment at the end of each training post and regular appraisals during their period of training. Aims: To analyse the existing practice with regard to conducting assessment and appraisals for basic surgical trainees in the South East Wales region. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all the basic surgical trainees in the South East Wales region. Results: A total of 52 questionnaires were sent out and 44 (84%) were returned. Four candidates were in the first post of their rotation, and were therefore excluded from the study. Nine of the 40 trainees (23%) did not have an assessment in one or more of their posts. There are 17 senior house officer posts available in general surgery in the rotation. Of the 31 "six month" episodes spent in these 17 posts, 27 (87%) underwent an assessment, 12 of the 17 (70%) episodes in trauma and orthopaedics (12 available posts) were assessed, and 31 of the 35 (88%) episodes in accident and emergency (eight available posts) underwent an assessment. Twenty eight of the 40 trainees (70%) did not undergo regular appraisals during the majority of their posts. Only 30%–50% of episodes spent in general surgery, orthopaedics, and accident and emergency underwent appraisals. The majority of the episodes spent in the other surgical specialties (12 posts available in total) had formal assessment and regular appraisals except for urology in which two of seven episodes underwent assessment and one underwent an appraisal. Twelve candidates (30%) expressed the view that operative experience and technical skills must form part of their assessment. Eight trainees (20%) felt that they needed more help from tutors with regard to career advice, preparation of curriculum vitae, and interview techniques for specialist registrar posts. Eight trainees mentioned that they had discussed unsatisfactory posts with their tutors but were not aware of any changes made to these posts. Conclusions: This study has shown that the formal assessment of basic surgical trainees at the end of each training post has to improve further. The existing practice of conducting regular appraisals for the trainees is grossly inadequate. There appears to be a need for formulating guidelines for conducting such appraisals, which would help to improve practice in the future