6634 NHS consultants perform teaching role primarily on altruistic ground

Objectives Most of the consultants working in the National Health Services participate in teaching undergraduate medical students and postgraduate trainees and they generally enjoy this role (GMC 2019, Reed et al 2017). Anecdotally, there is a general perception that the enthusiasm for teaching is waning and there is evidence to suggest that not having protected time for teaching in their job plan and inadequate recognition from the employers are some of the reasons for this (GMC 2019). The aim of this study was to explore the motivation of teaching consultants to inform the education and NHS employers to support consultants in fulfilling their role as teachers. Methods This phenomenological qualitative study was conducted assuming an interpretivist stance to the phenomenon. Qualitative data were collected by interviewing 5 consultant paediatricians from the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough. The transcripts of the interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results Participants generally agreed that teaching is an important part of consultants' job, but the degree of agreement varied among the consultants. The study identified several motivating factors of different consultants to teach and personal satisfaction and professional growth appeared very important (May et al, 2012) and common to all participants. It was found that not having allocated and protected time for teaching in consultants' job plan was the most important barrier to deliver teaching. Inadequate recognition and support about this from the employers were among other important factors. The consultants navigated the barrier in different ways. Conclusion It is hoped that this study has given an insight into the concern about waning enthusiasm among the consultants about their teaching role and will have an implication on future practice and policy and it will stimulate research. References GMC Training Survey, GMC, 2019. Reed, et al. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2007. May, et al. Survey to assess family physicians' motivation to teach undergraduates in their practices, 2012.