Association of use of a log book and experience as a preregistration house officer: interview survey

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether use of a log book improved the experiences of preregistration house officers.

Design: Confidential questionnaire and interview survey of preregistration house officers carried out as part of University of London inspection process.

Measures: Preregistration house officers were asked to rate educational and pastoral elements of their posts and about the use made of previously distributed log books.

Subjects and setting: Preregistration house officers in North Thames.

Results: The incumbents of 535 of 560 (95%) preregistration house officer posts in the region were surveyed between June 1994 and July 1995, 490 by questionnaire and interview, 45 by questionnaire alone. House officers who had discussed the log book with their consultant expressed more satisfaction with their induction, consultant supervision and feedback, and formal and informal education and were more likely to recommend their job to a friend.

Conclusion: Preregistration house officers who had discussed the log book with their consultant expressed more satisfaction with the educational elements of their jobs. The structured discussion with their consultant about the job and their performance seemed to make the difference.