Psychiatric Consultation Skills Toolkit - a Pilot

AIMS: The aim is to understand whether the online video based psychiatric consultation skills toolkit, which was developed to attempt to address some of the differential attainment seen amongst International Medical Graduates (IMGs) within psychiatry, is feasible, effective and acceptable by running a pilot amongst core psychiatric trainees in the North West prior to a full roll out. METHODS: 19 trainees sitting the 2022 North West formative skills test were invited to take part by email. 7 trainees accessed the toolkit. Performance from the skills test was analysed in excel looking at averages of individual domains across all stations. Results from those who used the toolkit prior to the skills test were compared with those who did not access the toolkit. Toolkit completion rates were obtained and feedback was accessed from an online survey. Data were analysed in excel, rigour was ensured by the supervisor reviewing data and results. RESULTS: There were 7 trainees who accessed the toolkit, 3 IMGs and 4 UK graduates. 12 trainees sat the skills test but did not access the toolkit, 9 IMGs and 3 UK graduates. Regarding acceptability of the toolkit, IMGs completed 92.7% of the toolkit on average and UK graduates completed 87.8%. 86% of trainees strongly agreed that the toolkit was easy to use and 14% agreed. 57% of trainees strongly agreed that the toolkit had helped develop their communication skills and 43% agreed. 86% of participants strongly agreed and 14% agreed that they would recommend the toolkit to a colleague suggesting they found it helpful and acceptable to use. The highest percentage improvement in scores with toolkit use was in clinical skills amongst IMGs of 29.4%, followed by communication skills amongst international medical graduates with a 25.5% improvement to their counterparts who did not use the toolkit. On average, across all domains, IMGs improved by 25.3% and UK graduates by 20% in their average score. CONCLUSION: The results above suggest that the toolkit has been well completed and deemed acceptable by those who accessed it during the pilot period. Although the results statistical significance cannot be determined at present due to small sample size, it is hoped when the project is fully rolled out this will be demonstrated and the initial findings showing some improvement in both IMGs and UK graduates are encouraging. It appears that this toolkit could go come way to addressing the differential attainment seen between IMGs and UK graduates.