Training the intern: The value of a pre-intern year in preparing students for practice.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical and professional development that occurs during a New Zealand trainee intern year in preparation for the first house officer role.


METHODS
A quantitative questionnaire was distributed to all trainee interns (year 6) and year 5 medical students in New Zealand at the end of the 2007 academic year. This survey assessed self-reported competency and performance across clinical, professional and role development domains.


RESULTS
Response rate was 65% (457/702). Compared to year 5 students, trainee interns reported significantly greater competence and performance levels across all three domains. The greatest improvement occurred in the independent performance of procedural skills (trainee interns: 77%, year 5: 35%, p < 0.001) and clinical tasks (trainee interns: 94%, year 5: 56%, p < 0.001) and in the level of clinical responsibility taken (p < 0.001). At the end of the trainee intern year, 92% of students felt prepared to be a junior doctor, versus only 53% at the end of their 5th year (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The trainee intern year is important in preparing graduates for the intern role. The year affords increased responsibility and practical experience, whilst retaining an educational focus, facilitating the move from competence towards performance. Preparedness for practice was substantially higher following the New Zealand trainee intern year than has been reported with other pre-intern placements.
Dare
Anna
A
University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Fancourt
Nicholas
N
Robinson
Elizabeth
E
Wilkinson
Tim
T
Bagg
Warwick
W
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D009520:New Zealand; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires