Perceptions of the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) in Surgical Training in the UK and Ireland

Completed

• Conditions: Education, Medical
• Interventions: Other: ARCP Process

• Registration Number: NCT03718481
• Lead Sponsor: University College Hospital Galway

Brief Summary

A Prospective Cross Sectional Questionnaire Study was conducted to evaluate surgical trainees' experiences of the ARCP process in order to identify areas for improvement.

Detailed Description

Background: Surgical trainees in the UK and Ireland undergo rigorous formative and summative assessments throughout each placement and appraisal at an Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP). The ARCP evaluates performance during each training year and determines progression to the next year of training. It is critical that the ARCP is a robust and fair process. The Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) sought to evaluate surgical trainees' experiences of the ARCP process in order to identify areas for improvement.

Methods: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study was conducted An electronic survey was developed and distributed electronically to the trainee membership of ASiT in the UK and Republic of Ireland. A 57 point survey examined the specifics of one ARCP cycle as well as attitudes to the process in general. Quantitative analysis was performed, along with thematic analysis on the free-text comments.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-10-01
• Primary Completion: 2018-03-31
• Study Completion: 2018-03-31
• Status Verified: 2018-10
• Study First Submitted: 2018-10-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-10-23
• Study First Posted: 2018-10-24
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-10-25
• Last Update Posted: 2018-10-29

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 600

Inclusion Criteria

• Must be a trainee member of ASiT
• All grades, Deaneries, including less than full-time/academic trainees are eligible for inclusion

Exclusion Criteria

• Student members are excluded

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Surgical Trainees	ARCP Process	Trainee membership of the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) in the UK and the Republic of Ireland

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Experiences of Annual Review of Competence and Progression	Oct 2017-March 2018	Experience of preparation, processes and standards. These will be measured on an anonymous, online survey (Survey monkey) and participants will be asked to rate their experiences of the ARCP using a likert scale. Specific experiences will include preparation for Annual Review of Competence and Progression-timing of decision making and value of the process as an educational tool and contribution of traineers, supervisors and the ARCP panel. Examples of questions are Did you feel your progression was fairly assessed? Possible answers include very fair, fair, neutral, not fair, very unfair

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Face to Face	Oct 2017- March 2018	Trainees attitudes to a face to face Annual Review of Competence and Progression This will be measured on a likert scale similar to that outlined above (Strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree). There will be space for free text comments on the survey and a thematic analysis will be performed according to the steps of Braun and Clarke on the comments

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Association of Surgeons in Training; 🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom