Differences in level of confidence in diabetes care between different groups of trainees: the TOPDOC diabetes study
Differences in level of confidence in diabetes care between different groups of trainees: the TOPDOC diabetes study
Background: there is an increasing prevalence of diabetes. Doctors in training, irrespective of specialty, will have patients with diabetes under their care. The aim of this further evaluation of the TOPDOC Diabetes Study data was to identify if there was any variation in confidence in managing diabetes depending on the geographical location of trainees and career aspirations.
Methods: an online national survey using a pre-validated questionnaire was administered to trainee doctors. A 4-point confidence rating scale was used to rate confidence in managing aspects of diabetes care and a 6-point scale used to quantify how often trainees would contribute to the management of patients with diabetes. Responses were grouped depending on which UK country trainees were based and their intended career choice.
Results: trainees in Northern Ireland reported being less confident in IGT diagnosis, use of IV insulin and peri-operative management and were less likely to adjust oral treatment, contact specialist, educate lifestyle, and optimise treatment. Trainees in Scotland were less likely to contact a specialist, but more likely to educate on lifestyle, change insulin, and offer follow-up advice. In Northern Ireland, Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) training in diagnosis was felt less adequate, PG training in emergencies less adequate, and reporting of need for further training higher. Trainees in Wales felt UG training to be inadequate. In Scotland more trainees felt UG training in diagnosis and optimising treatment was inadequate. Physicians were more likely to report confidence in managing patients with diabetes and to engage in different aspects of diabetes care. Aspiring physicians were less likely to feel the need for more training in diabetes care; however a clear majority still felt they needed more training in all aspects of care.
Conclusions: doctors in training have poor confidence levels dealing with diabetes related care issues. Although there is variability between different groups of trainees according to geographical location and career aspirations, this is a UK wide issue. There should be a UK wide standardised approach to improving training for junior doctors in diabetes care with local training guided by specific needs.
Smith, Christopher J.
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George, Jyothis T.
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Warriner, David
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McGrane, David J.
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Rozario, Kavithia S.
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Price, Hermione C.
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Wilmot, Emma G.
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Kar, Partha
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Stratton, Irene M.
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Jude, Edward B.
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McKay, Gerard A.
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17 September 2014
Smith, Christopher J.
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George, Jyothis T.
be1608ea-a900-4594-98f9-02f2bf3c5636
Warriner, David
1ae8e956-b9ba-429c-b5db-e84f4aa1c44f
McGrane, David J.
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Rozario, Kavithia S.
8b6ad3df-d6c8-4fa9-9536-5af65582dc5c
Price, Hermione C.
0390ec6b-4a7e-41c2-bd93-6aee784c2213
Wilmot, Emma G.
27367c32-4b9b-4c62-a24b-9ed06af82a46
Kar, Partha
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Stratton, Irene M.
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Jude, Edward B.
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McKay, Gerard A.
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Smith, Christopher J., George, Jyothis T., Warriner, David, McGrane, David J., Rozario, Kavithia S., Price, Hermione C., Wilmot, Emma G., Kar, Partha, Stratton, Irene M., Jude, Edward B. and McKay, Gerard A.
(2014)
Differences in level of confidence in diabetes care between different groups of trainees: the TOPDOC diabetes study.
BMC Medical Education, 14 (1), [191].
(doi:10.1186/1472-6920-14-191).
Abstract
Background: there is an increasing prevalence of diabetes. Doctors in training, irrespective of specialty, will have patients with diabetes under their care. The aim of this further evaluation of the TOPDOC Diabetes Study data was to identify if there was any variation in confidence in managing diabetes depending on the geographical location of trainees and career aspirations.
Methods: an online national survey using a pre-validated questionnaire was administered to trainee doctors. A 4-point confidence rating scale was used to rate confidence in managing aspects of diabetes care and a 6-point scale used to quantify how often trainees would contribute to the management of patients with diabetes. Responses were grouped depending on which UK country trainees were based and their intended career choice.
Results: trainees in Northern Ireland reported being less confident in IGT diagnosis, use of IV insulin and peri-operative management and were less likely to adjust oral treatment, contact specialist, educate lifestyle, and optimise treatment. Trainees in Scotland were less likely to contact a specialist, but more likely to educate on lifestyle, change insulin, and offer follow-up advice. In Northern Ireland, Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) training in diagnosis was felt less adequate, PG training in emergencies less adequate, and reporting of need for further training higher. Trainees in Wales felt UG training to be inadequate. In Scotland more trainees felt UG training in diagnosis and optimising treatment was inadequate. Physicians were more likely to report confidence in managing patients with diabetes and to engage in different aspects of diabetes care. Aspiring physicians were less likely to feel the need for more training in diabetes care; however a clear majority still felt they needed more training in all aspects of care.
Conclusions: doctors in training have poor confidence levels dealing with diabetes related care issues. Although there is variability between different groups of trainees according to geographical location and career aspirations, this is a UK wide issue. There should be a UK wide standardised approach to improving training for junior doctors in diabetes care with local training guided by specific needs.
Text
1472-6920-14-191
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 9 September 2014
Published date: 17 September 2014
Additional Information:
Funding Information: the TOPDOC Diabetes Study was supported by the Association of Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) through a competitive audit prize administered and adjudicated independently by the ABCD but supported by Eli Lily and Co. Ltd.. Initial pump-priming for the study was provided by Sanofi-aventis UK as an unrestricted educational grant. The study design and the collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article and the decision to submit it for publication, are all independent of the funding bodies.
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Local EPrints ID: 487128
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/487128
ISSN: 1472-6920
PURE UUID: b09268c9-dfcd-4577-8cfa-662d0c4c0475
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Date deposited: 14 Feb 2024 17:37
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:01
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Contributors
Author:
Christopher J. Smith
Author:
Jyothis T. George
Author:
David Warriner
Author:
David J. McGrane
Author:
Kavithia S. Rozario
Author:
Hermione C. Price
Author:
Emma G. Wilmot
Author:
Partha Kar
Author:
Irene M. Stratton
Author:
Edward B. Jude
Author:
Gerard A. McKay
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