Interim Foundation Year One (FiY1) and preparedness for foundation year 1: A national survey of UK foundation doctors

Abstract

Background

Induction programmes aim to ease the transition from medical student to doctor. The interim foundation year 1 (FiY1) placement, introduced in the first COVID-19 wave, provided experience in advance of the Foundation Year 1 (FY1) start in August; providing more time and enhanced responsibilities than traditional induction programmes. This study examines the effects of the FiY1 placement on anxiety levels and preparedness for FY1.

Methods

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using data from four cohorts of FY1s who completed the online National FY1 induction survey from 2017 to 2020 (n = 4766). Questions evaluated self-reported preparedness and anxiety levels. Differences in preparedness and anxiety levels of FiY1 and non-FiY1 participants in 2020, and the 2017–2019 participants (non-FiY1 controls), were evaluated.

Results

FiY1s in 2020 reported higher self-reported preparedness (79%) than non-FiY1s (54%) in 2020 (p = <0.001) and the control 2017–2019 cohort (63.8%) (p < 0.001). Fewer FiY1s experienced pathological anxiety (29.3% versus 40.8% for non-FiY1s; p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Time spent in an FiY1 role is associated with an increase in self-perceptions of preparedness and a reduction in anxiety. These data indicate that time spent in an FiY1 role may have utility in further improving the transition period from medical school to FY1.

Keywords:

• FiY1
• Foundation Year 1
• FY1
• Medical Education & Training
• preparedness
• medical student

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the FY1s that have made this research possible.

Ethics approval

Ethics approval previously granted for ongoing research using data from the National FY1 survey by Great Western Hospitals NHS trust Ethics Board in 2012.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf and declare: no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Data sharing statement

Anonymous aggregate data are available on reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Glossary

Foundation programme: A 2-year programme which completes the basic training of a doctor in the UK before entry into specialist training. This takes places immediately after medical school.

FY1 (Foundation Year 1 Doctor): The first year in a graduate doctor's training in the UK.

FiY1 (Interim Foundation Year 1 Doctor): The role created for newly graduated doctors in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This role provided a modified FY1 placement in advance of the normal start of FY1 in August.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol. C. J. S. M. was supported by the UK Academic Foundation Programme, Severn Deanery. N.S.B. is a Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist. L.H. is a senior research associate with the Centre for Child Health, University of Bristol. C.v.H. is the foundation school director of Severn Deanery. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the UK NHS, NIHR or Department of Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Notes on contributors

Connor J. S. Moore

Dr Connor J. S. Moore, MBChB, BSc (Hons), Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Natalie S. Blencowe

Miss Natalie S. Blencowe, BMedSci(Nott.), BMBS(Nott.), MRCS(RCS), PhD(Bristol), Division of Surgery, University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.

Linda Hollén

Dr Linda Hollén, MSc (Stockholm), PhD (Zuer.), Centre for Academic Child Health, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Clare van Hamel

Dr Clare van Hamel, MBChB, FRCA, Health Education England South West, Bristol, UK.

The core researchers are faculty from the University of Bristol (C. J. S. M., N. S. B., and L. H.) & Severn Deanery (C. v. H.) who designed the study, collected, and analysed all data. C. J. S. M. conceptualised the study and oversaw the manuscript development overall with significant assistance from N. S. B. and L. H. L. H. oversaw the data analysis and reporting. C. v. H. managed the research overall, and the data collection via the National FY1 Survey.