70 The views of medical students and professionals on medical leadership in 2014–2015 vs 2020–2021

Abstract

<h3></h3> The Birmingham Medical Leadership Society (BMLS) sought to identify whether medical students and doctors’ perceptions on leadership as well as the preferred methods for teaching it, had changed. Two identical questionnaires were compiled: one between 2014-2015 and the other between 2020-2021. Results suggest perceptions on the importance of medical leadership and management training have changed, with a statistically significant difference (95% significance level) in results, unlikely due to chance. In 2014-2015, the largest group of participants, 17/38 (44.7%) rated it 4/5 on the Likert scale. Comparatively, in 2020-2021, 75/122 participants (61.5%) rated it 5/5. The value placed on medical leadership has increased, with a statistically significant difference between survey results. In 2014, 39.5% of participants felt leadership education should be introduced in the pre-clinical years and 47.4% in clinical years. In 2020, 53.3% of students and professionals felt this should be introduced in pre-clinical years and 38.5% in clinical years. Current and prospective doctors desire that leadership training be introduced earlier on in one’s academic career. Accommodating this demand for earlier exposure to medical leadership and management training, may require medical schools to work with the GMC to revise medical school curricula. Delivering leadership training through NHS Paired Learning Schemes, as desired by most participants, would require cooperation from current NHS leaders to act as teacher/mentors. The results suggest that medical leadership is seen now in higher regard than previously seen and there is a demand for early leadership training during medical school. Earlier training may be beneficial to healthcare staff, with doctors better equipped to communicate with the multidisciplinary team, leading to improved patient outcomes. It will also provide doctors with more confidence to enter senior leadership positions.