Doctors' views about their first postgraduate year in UK medical practice: House officers in 2003.
OBJECTIVE
To report house officers' views in 2003 of their first postgraduate year, and to compare their responses with those of house officers 2 and 3 years previously.


METHODS
Postal questionnaires to all house officers in 2003 who graduated from UK medical schools in 2002.


RESULTS
The response rate was 65.3% (2778/4257). The house officers of 2003 enjoyed the year more than those of 2000-1. A total of 78% of respondents in 2003 scored 7-10 in reply to the question 'How much have you enjoyed the house officer year overall?', scored from 0 (no enjoyment) to 10 (enjoyed it greatly), compared with 70% of 2000-1 house officers. They were more satisfied with leisure time available to them (51% scoring 6-10 in 2003; 35% in 2000-1). There were significant improvements in almost every aspect of doctors' experience. Hospital medical posts were rated more highly than surgical posts, and general practice posts higher still. Overall, 38% of respondents regarded their training as having been of a high standard, and 37% felt that they received constructive feedback on their performance. Differences between men and women in their views about their jobs were small.


CONCLUSIONS
The house officers of 2003 reported more positively on their experiences than did those of 2000-1. Although a substantial percentage were negative about specific aspects of clinical support and training, particularly in surgical posts, almost all the responses covering training and clinical support moved in a favourable direction over time.
Lambert
Trevor W
TW
UK Medical Careers Research Group, Department of Public Health, Oxford University, Oxford, UK. trevor.lambert@dphpc.ox.ac.uk
Goldacre
Michael J
MJ
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*