“They evaluate us based on the questions meant for registrar”: Exploration of Transitional Opportunities Experienced by Intern Doctors

Introduction: The transition between being an intern doctor before moving into the medical work force is a crucial phase in the life of an intern doctor. The transitional experience is a phase of learning, exploration, and adaptation for intern doctors. This study aimed to build insight into the opportunities experienced by intern doctors in Vanuatu during the internship transition. Methods: A qualitative study was carried out in two referral hospitals in Vanuatu, Vila Central Hospital and Northern Provincial Hospital. A convenient sample of 27 intern doctors participated through face-to-face semi-structured in-depth interviews. The participants comprised current intern doctors or those that had completed internship within the past 2 years and were currently working in the two referral hospitals in Vanuatu. To help direct in-depth interviews, a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire was employed. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the verbatim transcription of the interview material. Results: Six themes were described as opportunities, which are confidence gain in the work place, clinical competency, impact of supporting learning tools, impact of medical consultants, clinical learning environment, and developing interaction relationship. These opportunities have allowed the interns to become more efficient clinicians to make right decisions and when dealing with stressful and nonideal situations. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that the transitional opportunities experienced by medical intern doctors will enable them to improve their proficiency level, thus improving the clinical outcomes through recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities within Vanuatu’s health system. Globally, by comparisons these will add value understanding the broader context of internship programs and identifying potential solutions that are essential to adapt those learnings to the specific context of Vanuatu. Therefore, the six themes identified have prepared well the intern doctors during their 2-year internship program before becoming a fully qualified and experienced junior registered doctor.