'Thrown in at the deep end': a qualitative analysis into the transition from trainee to consultant during the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons for the future.

Background: Sustained crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic would be expected to impact the transition from trainee to consultant for anaesthetists or intensivists, but limited research exists on this important topic. This study aimed to examine the social context of this crucial career transition during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with anaesthetists and intensivists who became consultants after the first UK lockdown. Thematic analysis was used and data saturation was reached at 33 interviews. Results: The pandemic substantially impacted the transition to consultant role in various ways, including professional identity, clinical and non-clinical responsibilities, and wellbeing. Participants experienced identity confusion, self-doubt, and moral injury, resulting in intense emotional distress, feelings of guilt and helplessness, which persisted beyond the pandemic. They also felt unprepared for their consultant roles because of disruptions in training. The pandemic exaggerated the vulnerability of those transitioning to consultants, because of increased clinical uncertainties, and pressures of the growing backlog. Additionally, the pandemic impacted on the wellbeing of those transitioning to consultants, intensifying feelings of anxiety and stress. We also identified unique opportunities presented by the pandemic, which accelerated learning and encouraged post-traumatic growth. Our study identified practical solutions that may improve transition experience at individual, organisational, and national levels. Conclusions: Persistent crises significantly impact the transition from trainee to consultant. Our findings generated insights into the challenges of this critical career transition and staff wellbeing, and serve to inform approaches of ongoing support for those transitioning to consultants.

Simulation to develop tomorrow's medical registrar.

BACKGROUND: Critical incident analysis reveals that poor performance in 'human-factor' or non-technical skills, such as decision making, leadership, teamwork and situational awareness, are frequently identified as key underlying features leading to adverse events. Simulation technology is a rapidly emerging modality used to develop technical and non-technical skills within specialist training as increasing shift-pattern work reduces work-based exposure and learning opportunities. To date, however, there is little literature regarding its use within core medical training to develop crisis resource management skills and medical registrar competency. STUDY DESIGN: We present results from a pilot in situ high-fidelity, multidisciplinary, simulation training course in which core medical trainees practised the role of a medical registrar within challenging crisis scenarios. RESULTS: Twenty-one trainees completed the simulation course. All trainees agreed that the course improved their clinical skills and knowledge, concentrated on key non-technical skills that are important in crisis management and, importantly, would change their clinical practice and improve patient safety. Trainee overall performance strongly correlated with assessment of non-technical skills during the simulation scenario. Trainees invited to return for a repeat session after previous concerns and specific feedback showed a visible improvement in performance, with an objective improvement in self-assessed performance. CONCLUSION: This pilot programme shows the benefits of a high-fidelity, in situ, multidisciplinary simulation training course for core medical trainees in developing the key crisis resource management skills necessary at medical registrar level. As a historical apprenticeship model of training becomes increasingly variable and absent, we present a novel complimentary training strategy for tomorrow's medical registrars.

Small-scale electrical resistivity tomography of wet fractured rocks.

This paper describes a series of experiments that tested the ability of the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method to locate correctly wet and dry fractures in a meso-scale model. The goal was to develop a method of monitoring the flow of water through a fractured rock matrix. The model was a four by six array of limestone blocks equipped with 28 stainless steel electrodes. Dry fractures were created by placing pieces of vinyl between one or more blocks. Wet fractures were created by injecting tap water into a joint between blocks. In electrical terms, the dry fractures are resistive and the wet fractures are conductive. The quantities measured by the ERT system are current and voltage around the outside edge of the model. The raw ERT data were translated to resistivity values inside the model using a three-dimensional Occam's inversion routine. This routine was one of the key components of ERT being tested. The model presented several challenges. First, the resistivity of both the blocks and the joints was highly variable. Second, the resistive targets introduced extreme changes the software could not precisely quantify. Third, the abrupt changes inherent in a fracture system were contrary to the smoothly varying changes expected by the Occam's inversion routine. Fourth, the response of the conductive fractures was small compared to the background variability. In general, ERT was able to locate correctly resistive fractures. Problems occurred, however, when the resistive fracture was near the edges of the model or when multiple fractures were close together. In particular, ERT tended to position the fracture closer to the model center than its true location. Conductive fractures yielded much smaller responses than the resistive case. A difference-inversion method was able to correctly locate these targets.