192 Transitioning: how hard can it really be?

Abstract

Transition can be ‘challenging’, requiring rapid acquisition of new skills. Though transition in medicine has been studied, transition from senior house officer (SHO) to neurology registrar (NR) specifically has not.We studied perceptions of NRs on their transition and how core medical training (CMT) impacted this. This was an exploratory study utilising qualitative research methodology. Face to-face interviews were undertaken, gaining in-depth insight into participant perspectives. Four junior NRs in a tertiary teaching hospital in London were interviewed. The data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis.Three major themes were identified: Transition period, role modelling and clinical training. Overall trainees perceived difficulty in transition and expressed need for a formally acknowledged transition period with teaching on transitioning. Trainees expressed requirement for small-group and bedside teaching. Neurology was also perceived as being an under-taught subject in CMT and thus the expert skill and knowledge required at NR level differed from competencies acquired in CMT.The transition from SHO to NR is an understudied area. This was a pilot study undertaken just prior to the introduction of the current internal medical curriculum and highlights need for further study in this area in order to further improve training and transitioning in neurology.sabrina_k2005@hotmail.co.uk