Making medical education great again: analysing trainee feedback to identify key drivers of trainee satisfaction and improve experience.

Abstract

Objectives: The London School of Paediatrics (LSP) surveys trainees annually regarding their training placements. There is a wide variation in satisfaction. We explored the last 5 years of data to identify trends and determine predictors of overall trainee satisfaction.

Methods: The survey is distributed annually to all London paediatric trainees with response rates of 86-90%. It explores overall placement satisfaction, followed by key questions covering staffing, supervision, teaching, facilities and other facets. The survey blends both quantitative and qualitative feedback.Satisfaction levels were analysed using time series trend analysis. Overall levels were compared using t-tests. Associations between satisfaction and components of the survey were identified using a convergence of multiple regression and other multivariate analyses.

Results: Overall trainee satisfaction increased steadily until 2020. There was a considerable variation across sites, some having consistently higher or lower scores than the median, while others showed an upward or downward trend, or very variable pattern.By training levels, ST3 trainees consistently rated their placement below average and ST7 trainees above average. There was also a considerable variation in responses by training level with regard to perceived staffing levels and teaching.To understand the influences on overall satisfaction, regression coefficients were derived between specific metrics and overall satisfaction using multiple regression and then normalised to 100%. The explanatory power of this list to explain satisfaction overall is high at 82% R².Trainee satisfaction was most strongly correlated with workplace atmosphere and consultant support. Staffing, educational supervision, facilities and wider MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) support are associated with overall satisfaction, but to a lesser degree.

Conclusions: Trainee satisfaction is crucial, affecting patient safety, retention and trainee mental health. Our analysis identified significant associations with satisfaction including modifiable elements such as consultant engagement and team morale. Staffing levels were less related to satisfaction than expected.Experimental data exploring the components of clinical training in real-world situations are lacking. These data use the natural experiment of placing trainees in different training locations to explore the factors that relate to their overall experience.