Abstract
BackgroundThe application process for Core Surgical Training (CST) in the United Kingdom (UK) is competitive and hence, careful preparation is required for trainees to obtain their posts of choice. There are multiple resources for preparation for selection including face-to-face courses and online question banks, however there is a paucity of webinars to educate trainees. With the cancellation of such courses due to social distancing restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, this cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the usefulness of a webinar to educate trainees on CST selection in the UK. Materials and methodsA free online webinar was held on a single day by a second year core surgical trainee and was attended by 111 junior doctors. Beforehand, all attendees were invited to complete a survey on Google Forms (Google, USA) to ascertain their level of experience with webinars, obtain demographic information and elicit their level of knowledge about CST selection using a 1–5 Likert scale. ResultsMost attendees were in Foundation Year 2 (38.7%) and many had not previously attended a webinar as part of CST application preparation (93.7%). Over half of respondents (55.0%) preferred a webinar over a face-to-face tutorial, appreciating the flexibility, convenience and zero financial cost associated. Many candidates received minimal advice on CST application by their Foundation School (47.7%) and 50.5% of respondents rated their confidence on the application process at ‘3 out of 5.‘ ConclusionOur study suggests webinars have been underused in preparation for CST applications. Traditional courses and advice from colleagues are more popular ways in which applicants prepare for selection. However, given the degree of uncertainty surrounding the return of face-to-face courses due to the Covid-19 pandemic, preparation for CST application may become increasingly reliant on online materials, which may result in an increased demand for high quality, engaging and informative webinars.
Highlights
Core Surgical Training (CST) is the first stage of surgical training in the United Kingdom (UK)
A need has been identified for trainee mentorship; there is no national provision for a formal mentorship program in surgical training
In the three weeks prior to the session, delegates were invited to complete a questionnaire Table 2 on Google Forms (Google, USA) to gauge their level of previous experiences with webinars during under graduate and postgraduate training. This questionnaire collected demographic data including stage of training and what other forms of preparation they had undergone for CST selection. They were given the opportunity to send in questions regarding the applica tion process and interview which were answered by the host in a dedi cated question and answer component of the webinar
Summary
Core Surgical Training (CST) is the first stage of surgical training in the United Kingdom (UK). The 24-month programme provides the op portunity to experience various surgical specialities and develop oper ative skills. During this time, trainees are encouraged to identify a speciality for higher training. The application process for Core Surgical Training (CST) in the United Kingdom (UK) is competitive and careful preparation is required for trainees to obtain their posts of choice. Results: Most attendees were in Foundation Year 2 (38.7%) and many had not previously attended a webinar as part of CST application preparation (93.7%). Given the degree of uncertainty surrounding the return of face-to-face courses due to the Covid-19 pandemic, preparation for CST application may become increasingly reliant on online materials, which may result in an increased demand for high quality, engaging and informative webinars
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