SRS366 - Gaps in wound management training across UK specialties

Abstract Introduction Wound care is a £8.3 billion annual burden to the NHS, yet training for doctors in the UK remains inconsistent. Limited data exist on how wound management education varies across specialties and how this affects trainee confidence. We aimed to evaluate wound care education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, compare confidence across training pathways, and identify preferred learning modalities. Methods A 20-item online questionnaire, based on the CHERRIES checklist, was distributed to UK doctors in training (March–September 2024). Eligible participants were in active training and UK medical school graduates. Outcomes included receipt of wound management teaching, self-rated confidence (Likert 1–10), and preferred educational methods. Statistical analysis used ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and Pearson correlation, with significance at P < 0.05. Results Of 262 respondents (42% foundation, 23% medical, 14% GP, 21% surgical trainees), only 65% had received wound care teaching in medical school and 25% during postgraduate training. Lectures dominated (75%), yet hands-on clinical teaching was most preferred (41%). Surgical trainees reported higher confidence in wound assessment (mean 7.1 versus 4.4), management (6.9 versus 3.5–4.0), and prescribing products (5.4 versus 2.6–3.5) (P < 0.01). Confidence improved with seniority only in surgical trainees (P = 0.01). All groups agreed wound care is integral to future practice. Conclusions UK doctors in training receive insufficient and sub-optimally delivered wound management education, with notable deficits outside surgical specialties. Cross-specialty, structured, practical training is urgently required to address skill gaps and meet rising patient demand.