N Z Med J. 2021 Jul 30;134(1539):56-62.
ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the learning environment of the 13-week Community Based Attachment (CBA) (or ‘rotation’) during the prevocational training years at a metropolitan hospital in New Zealand, and to compare the results with general hospital attachments’ scores using an internationally validated survey, the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM).
METHOD: A retrospective analysis of data gathered from the PHEEM over four years was conducted. Responses from interns who undertook a CBA attachment at Waikato District Health Board (DHB) were compared with those who undertook a hospital-based attachment at the same DHB during that time period.
RESULTS: CBAs were rated significantly higher than the hospital-based attachments for all subscales (autonomy, teaching and social support) as well as the PHEEM total score. The majority of individual items also rated higher with the CBA cohort, with 26/40 items being statistically significant. Four items were rated higher by the hospital cohort; however, none were significantly different.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the CBA attachments appear to have provided valuable learning experiences for prevocational doctors at Waikato DHB. Resident medical officers (RMOs) who have undertaken CBAs confirm a positive, supportive learning environment with enthusiastic and motivated clinical supervisors.
PMID:34320615
