title: Perceptions and Impact of Mandatory eLearning for Foundation Trainee Doctors: A Qualitative Evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Junior doctors in the UK must complete various educational components during their two year Foundation training programme. It is important that mandatory learning is informative and engaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate trainee doctors' perceptions of a Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) programme developed to improve prescribing competency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups and interviews were conducted at three hospital sites in the West Midlands. Codes, sub-themes and themes were determined using deductive and inductive thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were collected from 38 Foundation trainee doctors. Results revealed major themes relating to prescribing education, the user experience and user engagement. Key findings included the positive impact of preparedness following undergraduate education on the user experience of the TEL programme at the postgraduate level; the impact of content, structure, and individual learning needs and styles on the user experience; and the impact of motivation and time on engagement. Most trainees engaged with the programme owing to its mandatory nature; however, some trainees also used the programme voluntarily, for example, to acquire knowledge prior to starting a new placement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to ensure that learners are willing to engage with mandatory TEL, and that they have the time and motivation to do so. It is also important to ensure that learners have a positive user experience and that in designing TEL individual differences in learning styles and needs are taken into account. These findings have implications for educators and system developers in the construction and design of mandatory eLearning programmes.
authors.affiliation: College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hannah L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.|University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0344-4075
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pontefract
authors.affiliation: College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hannah K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Vallance
authors.affiliation: College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: Health Education England, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.|West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robin E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ferner
authors.affiliation: College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Marriott
authors.affiliation: College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.|University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jamie J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005582:Foundations; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011380:Programmed Instructions as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014146:Training Support / Q000592:standards*