Formal education programmes for senior house officers: comparison of experience in three hospital specialties

This study was designed to compare the attendance rate of senior house offi cers (SHOs) in three specialties at formal educational events, examine expe riences of protected time, use of educational objectives, and perceived bar riers to attendance and evaluate differences found in the context of variat ions in training practice within each specialty. A quantitative questionnai re survey was completed by Trent region SHOs in obstetrics and gynaecology, general medicine, and accident and emergency posts. An independent researc her visited a selection of educational programme events over a two month sp an, recorded attendances, and administered the questionnaire. Attendance ra tes ranged from 40.8% of those in obstetrics and gynaecology jobs to 55.4% of those in accident and emergency jobs. The questionnaire findings found t hat service commitments; were a major obstacle to attendance for the majori ty of those in obstetrics and gynaecology and general medicine jobs, while relatively few of the accident and emergency SHOs specified any barriers. S HOs in accident and emergency jobs had significantly more protected time fo r education and found educational objectives to be more widely used by seni or staff. The findings suggest that the planned integration of formal educa tion programmes with appropriate working pattern systems-in this case full shifts within accident and emergency departments-will result in SHOs receiv ing a better deal in terms of provision and structure of education.