Abstract
Aims and methodTo explore attitudes and perceptions towards workplace-based assessment (WPBA) among psychiatric trainers in Wales and to compare them with those of trainees. To identify current problems and report recommendations made by survey respondents to streamline and successfully implement WPBA. An anonymous questionnaire-based cross-sectional online survey was conducted involving consultant psychiatrists in Wales and the results compared with a previous survey of specialty registrars.ResultsIn total, 104 of 164 consultants participated (63%), compared with 81 of 88 trainees (92%). Both surveys highlighted numerous problems and negative attitudes towards WPBA. Compared with widespread dissatisfaction among trainees, trainers appear more diverse in their opinions, although considerable numbers are dissatisfied with the new competency-based system.Clinical implicationsNegative attitudes harboured by many trainees and trainers constitute a significant hurdle to the effective implementation of WPBA and undermine its efficacy as a tool intended to improve training. Specific measures with the potential to address various shortcomings are discussed, with a view to improving WPBA and rendering it more acceptable to both trainees and trainers – and thus facilitate improvement of training.
Highlights
8% of trainers considered that it was introduced ‘to improve patient care’, and only 2% of trainers feel that trainers themselves had been instrumental as a driving force behind the genesis of workplace-based assessment (WPBA)
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of these surveys involves the contrast between the response rates of trainees (92%) and trainers (63%)
The rapidity of response is relevant; the majority of trainees completed the survey promptly with little requirement for reminders, whereas quite the opposite was the case for the trainers, indicating the strength of feeling among trainees in this context, compared with perhaps a relative indifference from the consultant body
Summary
A total of 104 of 164 invited trainers (63%) responded, the majority (88%) from South Wales. Practicalities of assessments Trainers were divided over ease of organisation of assessments and support from colleagues (online table DS3) They were, largely positive about ease of access to computers, many expressed concerns. The assessment tools adopted A more encouraging picture emerges with regard to the ease of use and relevance of the assessment tools recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (65% and 58% of trainers expressing approval), only 30% felt that WPBA facilitated training positively. In total 86%, 82% and 83% of trainers rated the online system as satisfactory in terms of ease of use, reliability and time consumption (online table DS5a); 53% perceived no change, and the remainder felt that the current online system was an improvement over the previous HcAT system (online table DS5b). Trainers were invited to offer their recommendations with regard to remedial measures that might improve the WPBA system, these are detailed in Box 1
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