EP160 - A comparison of pre-rotation confidence levels over a year of surgical foundation year one doctors in a busy district general hospital

Abstract Aims Assess the confidence levels of foundation year one (FY1) doctors in managing surgical patients pre-rotation. Identify areas where further support could be given to improve confidence levels. Methods Ten questions used Likert scales (1 to 5: not at all confident to very confident) to assess general surgical patient management. One question focused on education methods and one open question. Cohort One (August 2022) were asked to reflect in December 2022. Cohort Two (December 2022) and Cohort 3 (April 2023) were surveyed at the start of their general surgical rotation. Data was initially inputted using Google Docs and analysed in Microsoft Excel. Results 100% (10/10) cohort one, 75% (6/8) cohort two and 100% (10/10) cohort three completed the survey. Pre-rotation confidence levels mostly improved between the first cohort and last cohort. Areas where modal scores were below three in the last cohort were in managing the acutely unwell general surgical patient, managing biliary disease and managing non-specific abdominal pain. Common concerns of FY1 doctors were not being able to contact a senior in theatre and the busyness of the specialty. Most FY1 doctors felt that group teaching would be the preferred method to increase understanding of general surgery. Conclusions Confidence levels were higher in the final cohort. This suggests core skills are picked up in different specialties which are transferrable to aspects of general surgery. Further work needs to be done to target improvement in areas of lower confidence.