title: Preparedness of newly qualified doctors in Ireland for prescribing in clinical practice.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the level of preparedness of newly qualified Irish-trained doctors for prescribing, and to investigate their attitudes towards prescribing and prescribing education, through a national survey.
  
  
  
  A 29-item online survey was distributed to 686 newly qualified doctors 1 month prior to the completion of their first year of clinical practice (internship). Only graduates from Irish medical schools were included.
  
  
  
  The response rate was 20.4% (n = 140; female : male 56%:44%). The majority of respondents felt confident in prescription writing (89%), medication history taking (81%) and accessing drug information in the hospital setting (80%). Only 58% of respondents felt confident in drug dose calculation, and 35% felt confident in preparing and administering drugs. When asked if their undergraduate medical education had prepared them for prescribing in clinical practice, 28% of respondents agreed. Confidence that their undergraduate education had prepared them was associated with receiving formal training in prescribing skills (P = 0.0045; 27% vs. 0%). Thirty-seven per cent of respondents agreed that they felt stressed about prescribing medications.
  
  
  
  This survey of newly qualified doctors in Ireland found that only 28% of respondents agreed that their undergraduate medical education had prepared them for prescribing, which was comparable to a previous survey of UK medical students and graduates. Investigating confidence and preparedness for prescribing provides important insights for educators. Dedicated teaching of prescribing, with an emphasis on practical training and assessment, may help graduates to feel more prepared for the challenges of prescribing in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Sheena Elizabeth
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Geoghegan
authors.affiliation: Health Professions Education Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Dara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Dermot
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Daragh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moneley
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strawbridge
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: David James
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054796:Drug Dosage Calculations; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: clinical pharmacology; education; prepared; prescribing