Medical graduates feel well-prepared for clinical work.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the coherence between the undergraduate medical program at Aarhus University and the foundation year.

Material and methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire survey included 503 doctors graduated from Aarhus University from the winter of 2007/2008 to the summer of 2009.

Results: The response rate was 73%. Approximately 73% of the respondents were in their foundation year or their first year of specialist training and 83% generally felt well-prepared. Respondents found that most of the learning outcomes of the undergraduate medical curriculum at Aarhus University are important for junior doctors. More than 90% of the respondents estimated that they were sufficiently prepared when it came to core outcomes such as history taking and physical examination. Five issues diverged considerably in importance stated and preparedness experienced: suggestion of diagnoses, initiation of treatment, pharmacotherapy, handling of own emotions and structuring of own learning. Also, 40% stated that their clerkships had only had little value in preparing them for their foundation year.

Conclusion: Overall, graduates felt well-prepared and characterized the education coherent. However, the study raises major questions concerning clerkships and competence in treatments, pharmacotherapy and the more personal aspects of professionalism.

Funding: not relevant.

Trial registration: not relevant.