Anaesthetic Pre-Registration House Officers: A Survey of Doctors and Medical Students Opinions

The GMC has accepted a proposal from the Royal College of Anaesthetists for a four-month module in anaesthesia, pain management and intensive care for pre-registration house officers. All 135 final year medical students at Aberdeen University and all GPs and hospital doctors (608 doctors) in the highland region of Scotland were sent a postal questionnaire asking their opinions on this module. Sixty-four per cent of medical students, 39% of hospital doctors and 22% of GPs replied. Eighty-three per cent of medical students would apply for the module if available. Eighty-eight per cent of doctors would have found the module useful in their careers. Sixty-seven per cent of doctors would recommend the module to trainees in their current speciality. This survey demonstrates a high level of support and interest in the module. This has considerable implications for the organisation of the pre-registration house officer year.