The study centres on SHOs’ experiences of various work and organisational factors, including, employee work engagement. Primarily, the study will aim to reveal salient predictors of long term success by examining a range of individual differences experienced by SHOs in their participation in BST including job and organisational characteristics. One issue of particular interest is that of the relationship between the SHO and their immediate trainer. In the longer term, it will also be possible to examine the consequences of both positive and negative work experiences on the individuals’ performance (both clinical and ‘soft’ skills) as well as their physical and psychological well-being.  The value of this level of knowledge is of great value to the College in considering the design and future development of SHO training programmes and developing career and training advice to SHOs.

The current stage of this study is focussed on trainers’ ratings of SHOs’ performance and factors which influence same. This level of involvement is necessary due to the higher reliability and validity of other-rated measures of performance as opposed to self-rated reports. Thus, we will be inviting and encouraging trainers to take part at this stage by providing ratings of individual SHOs performance during at least one of their rotations. In order to do this effectively, we will be sending out online surveys to SHOs. Once they have completed the survey, they will then inform their trainers and will forward on a link to an online survey, with a random, anonymous matching code to enable trainers to complete their part of the survey. This allows the researchers to collate SHO and trainer data without identifying any individual physician. Data from trainers is only useful where the SHO has already completed the survey so we also ask you to encourage your SHOs to participate.

The College will email all trainers with further details about the study but, in the meantime, if you have any questions about the study, please contact RCPI Trinity Project at rcpitrinityresearch@rcpi.ie