32 Assessing the impact of the change in ‘the shape of training’ on intention to apply for palliative medicine specialty training

<h3>Introduction</h3> The Shape of Training (SoT) reform to postgraduate medical training was implemented in 2022, aiming to provide doctors with a more general, patient-focussed curriculum and a more flexible career structure. Doctors applying for Palliative Medicine training now need to have completed 3 years of Internal Medicine Training (IMT) or 4 years of Acute Care Common Stem- Internal Medicine training, and complete an additional year of General Internal Medicine (GIM) during specialty training to dual-certify in Palliative Medicine and GIM. Since the implementation of the change in SoT, there has been a significant decrease in applications to Palliative Medicine training. This project aimed to identify factors contributing to this decrease. <h3>Methods</h3> We surveyed attendees of a conference aimed at medical students and pre-specialty junior doctors interested in Palliative Medicine. The conference included 3 sessions on careers/training in Palliative Medicine. Questions were answered anonymously post-conference with ‘yes/no’ and free text answer options. <h3>Results</h3> Of 23 respondents, 35% felt the change in SoT had impacted on their decision to apply. Most reported a negative impact, with the acute/internal medicine requirements and medical registrar role the most commonly cited reasons. One respondent however indicated that they were more likely to apply due to the greater flexibility and ease of changing careers in the future. <h3>Conclusion</h3> This survey suggests that the majority of potential applicants to Palliative Medicine training have not changed their minds following the change in SoT. However, it must be acknowledged that the population surveyed are highly likely to be interested in a career in palliative medicine, so responses may not have captured those already deterred by the change in SoT. Among those whose decision to apply has been negatively impacted, key factors were apprehension towards the medical registrar role and the increase in time working in GIM.