Abstract
With the imminent introduction of the Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) post-graduate training programme, we undertook a study to assess how informed the orthopaedic Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) and patients were with regard to the details, implementation and future implications of MMC.
Methods: A questionnaire was designed to record the level of awareness of MMC using a visual analogue scale and to document individual preferences for surgical training, either traditional or MMC. 143 questionnaires were completed – consultant orthopaedic surgeons (n=12); orthopaedic nursing staff (n=54); musculoskeletal physiotherapists (n=27); and trauma and orthopaedic patients (n=50).
Results: Consultants felt most informed about MMC compared to patients and other members of the multidisciplinary team (p < 0.01). Consultants preferred old style training in terms of their juniors as well as future consultant colleagues. Nurses showed no preference for either system. Patients and physiotherapists expressed a preference for their surgeon to have been trained under the traditional, rather than the new system.
Conclusions: Our study showed that there is a wide variation in the degree to which patients and healthcare professionals are informed about MMC.
Correspondence should be addressed to David Bracey, Honorary Secretary c/o Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3LJ
