Learning the house officer role: reflections on the value of shadowing a PRHO

Abstract

In the new integrated undergraduate medical programme at the University of Manchester, fifth-year students spend several weeks shadowing the pre-registration house officer (PRHO) whose post they will take over. The concept of ‘shadowing’ emerged from a set of interviews conducted with graduates during their first PRHO job. Graduates felt that shadowing helped them to gain familiarity with the work environment; with orientation to the role of a PRHO; and with specific learning, such as disease management, on which they could then get feedback. We hypothesize that shadowing provides an opportunity for focused apprenticeship learning of the future PRHO role. Further research may clarify the specific values of shadowing and how it might lessen the stresses faced by new graduates during the transition from student to doctor.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alison Jones

ALISON JONES, BA (Hons) PhD, previously worked for the University of Manchester, researching the outcomes of curricular change. She now works as a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

Sarah C. Willis

SARAH C. WILLIS, BA (Hons) MA (Econ), has worked for the University of Manchester for several years and is currently working as a Research Fellow in the School of Pharmacy. For the medical school, she worked on curriculum evaluation.

Patricia J. McArdle

PATRICIA J. MCARDLE, AB MS (Epidemiology) EdD, is Senior Medical Educator in the Office of Educational Affairs, Tufts University School of Medicine and a consultant to the Research Unit, University of Manchester.

Paul A. O'Neill

PAUL A. O'NEILL, FRCP MD, is Professor of Medical Education and Associate Dean for Medical Undergraduate Studies. He led many of the changes in the new medical undergraduate programme.