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A survey of ENT experience in South West Peninsula general practitioner trainees: how can post-graduate ENT training be improved?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2016

R H Easto*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
V Reddy
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Ms Rachel H Easto, ENT Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK E-mail: Rachel.easto@nhs.net

Abstract

Objectives:

To assess how much ENT experience regional general practitioner trainees received, both in their undergraduate and post-graduate training, and to establish if trainees felt they required further ENT training to manage ENT complaints.

Methods:

An online survey was emailed to general practitioner trainees in Cornwall and Devon.

Results:

Of 200 general practitioner trainees, 121 (60.5 per cent) responded to the survey. Of these respondents, 95.9 per cent felt ENT experience was important as a general practitioner; however, 59.5 per cent had no ENT experience in their post-graduate training. Sixty-five per cent of trainees had not had any formal ENT teaching since leaving medical school; however, 93.4 per cent would attend a 1-day course if offered the opportunity locally. Finally, 75.8 per cent of trainees would have liked an ENT post during their post-graduate training.

Conclusion:

Further ENT training is required for doctors in general practitioner training schemes to aid improvement of patient care. The most logical way to enhance ENT training in a post-graduate setting is through up-to-date courses held locally with a faculty made up of experts working within the specialty.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

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