title: Initial experiences of a student assistantship.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence suggests that medical graduates are underprepared to work as junior doctors. To ease transition in the UK, the General Medical Council (GMC) recommended the introduction of a student 'assistantship'. This is a period of training where final-year students take on duties of a foundation doctor under supervision. This study explored the experiences of the first cohort of students and junior doctors participating in the assistantship in one UK medical school in 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 248 students and their supervisors were asked to complete an online feedback questionnaire. All students who went on to work locally were also invited to participate in focus groups as recent graduates. Evidence suggests that medical graduates are underprepared to work as junior doctors
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionnaire response rates were 49 per cent for students and 43 per cent for supervisors. Fifteen new graduates participated in focus groups. Aspects of the assistantship considered important to participants frequently mapped to areas specified by the GMC and the locally identified learning outcomes. Additional themes identified included the importance of having meaningful responsibility for patient care, a placement in a general medical or surgical ward and receiving effective feedback.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The assistantship seems to have been highly valued by students, but could be improved by ensuring that all students are given relevant placements and clinical responsibility.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, the University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fullbrook
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, the University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, the University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mellanby
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, the University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wylde
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, the University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaap
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, the University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom