Background

Transitioning from medical school to clinical practice is a critical phase in a physician’s career. In Poland, this happens during a mandatory postgraduate internship. Many junior doctors undertake work in Night and Holiday Healthcare Services (NHHS).

Objectives

The aim of the study was to explore the motivation and preparation of medical interns for work in NHHS and to assess major potential gaps in pre-graduate training.

Material and methods

We prepared a 31-question online survey to assess the skills of medical trainees in the following areas: differential diagnosis, basic medical procedures, basic life support skills, and administration and communication skills. Participants were asked to evaluate their proficiency using a 5-point Likert scale, with 1 representing very poor skills and 5 indicating very good skills. A weighted mean was calculated based on the number of responses received in each category.

Results

The study involved 124 participants. The main motives for interns to work in NHHS were financial reasons and the desire to gain experience. Almost half of the respondents assessed their preparation for work as average. The respondents judged their differential diagnostic skills as poor (2.67). The surveyed individuals rated their skills in pediatric care particularly low (2.44). However, the respondents rated themselves quite well in terms of basic life support (BLS) (4.06) and communication (3.86).

Conclusions

The results suggest the preparation of interns for work in NHHS is at an average level. The current medical education system in Poland may require modification to better prepare young doctors for differential diagnosis of the symptoms, as well as pediatric urgencies.