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

Education, Medical Clinical Trial

Official title:

Perceptions of the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) in Surgical Training in the UK and Ireland: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03718481
• Other study ID #: ASiT ARCP
• Status: Completed
• Start date: October 1, 2017
• Est. completion date: March 31, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: October 2018
• Source: University College Hospital Galway
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial 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.

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 600
• Est. completion date: March 31, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: March 31, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Education, Medical

Intervention

Other:
• ARCP Process
One Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) cycle. In the U.K., doctors, across all specialities, undergo an Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) to evaluate performance during each training year and determine progression to the next year of training. Similar processes exist in the Republic of Ireland. The process and requirements for ARCP in the UK are specified in the Gold Guide, the Reference Guide for Postgraduate Specialty Training [1]. It defines ARCP as a formal process that uses evidence collected by trainees to review and record performance, demonstrate competencies achieved and inform decisions regarding progression in training

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United Kingdom	Association of Surgeons in Training	London

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University College Hospital Galway	Association of Surgeons in Training

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United Kingdom, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Experiences of Annual Review of Competence and Progression	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	Oct 2017-March 2018
Secondary	Face to Face	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	Oct 2017- March 2018