Performing clinical tasks without proper training?

The first postgraduate year of medical training (currently termed as the ‘F1 year’ in the UK) is an important year in which junior doctors make the transition from medical student to trainee professional. A recent paper in BMJ Open [BMJ Open 2013;3:e002723. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002723] looks at the views of over 14,000 doctors (in 6 graduation years) with regard to this critical year of training. The most interesting result relates to the fact that approximately one in six F1 year doctors felt they had been required to perform clinical tasks for which they felt inadequately trained. It’s difficult to pinpoint what’s behind these views. The authors themselves provide alternative explanations. For example, they wonder whether the European WTD have resulted in lost opportunities for education and training. The research is an important insight into this critical year, and I wonder to what degree the culture of the organisation contributes to this phenomenon. It’s worthy of more in-depth investigation.