title: Assistantship improves medical students' perception of their preparedness for starting work.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The GMC has recommended introducing student assistantships during which final year students, under supervision, undertake most of the responsibilities of a FY1 doctor. The Medical School at Queen's University Belfast in 2011/12 introduced an assistantship programme. We have evaluated the impact of the assistantship on students' perception of their preparedness for starting work.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students were asked to complete a questionnaire at the beginning of the assistantship. It assessed the students' perception of their preparedness in five areas: clinical and practical skills, communications skills, teaching and learning, understanding the work environment and team working. After the assistantship they again completed the questionnaire. Comparison of the results allowed an assessment of the impact of the assistantship.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant improvement in the students' perception of their preparation for 49 of 56 tasks contained within the questionnaire. After the assistantship 81.2% of students felt well prepared for starting work compared with 38.9% before the assistantship. 93.9% agreed that the assistantship had improved their preparedness for starting work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The assistantship at Queen's University improves medical students' perception of their preparedness for starting work. The majority of medical students feel well prepared for starting work after completing the assistantship.
authors.affiliation: a Queen's University Belfast , UK.
authors.forename: Conor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Braniff
authors.affiliation: a Queen's University Belfast , UK.
authors.forename: Roy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.affiliation: a Queen's University Belfast , UK.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.affiliation: a Queen's University Belfast , UK.
authors.forename: Mairead
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boohan
authors.affiliation: a Queen's University Belfast , UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010465:Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*