DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2026.11468 ISSN: 2056-4724

Surviving the First Shift as a Resident Doctor in Psychiatry: A Quality Improvement Project Analysing Feedback for the New and Improved Resident Doctors Handbook in Psychiatry in North Wales

Aneeq Rao, Wamiqur Rehman Gajdhar, Ashna Anil, Pramestha Khoju Shrestha, Asha Dhandapani

Aims:

To analyse responses from a survey sent to current resident/SAS doctors and consultants who had received the updated induction handbook and also resident/SAS doctors and consultants who had received a previous version of the same.

Methods:

The former induction handbook was updated after receiving feedback. A 20 question survey was sent out to all the current resident/SAS doctors and consultants working across North Wales along with the updated induction handbook.The questions included yes/no, multiple-choice and free flow text options.

Results:

There were 30 respondents of the survey of whom 22 had used a previous version of the induction handbook. The handbook achieved 100% satisfaction rate in the following categories:

Roles and Responsibilities.

Admission Guidance.

Acute Psychiatric Emergencies.

Discharge Processes.

Contact Details.

A very high level of satisfaction was noted in legal frameworks (97%), training essentials (93%) and practical information (93%).

Of the respondents who had used the previous version of the handbook, 81% rated it much better and 19% rated it slightly better in clarity and structure. 81% found it much better in usefulness and relevance and 80% noted it to be much improved in design and readability. 84% of the previous respondents stated it to significantly improve overall induction experience with the rest stating it to be somewhat better.

The most valued new sections were:

Psychiatric Emergencies and Rapid Tranquillisation.

Legal Frameworks including Mental Health Act and Mental

Capacity Act.

Old Age Clerking.

Detention in Forensic Sections.

Suggestions for improvements included:

Information on Electronic Prescribing.

Electronic Discharge Summaries.

Clinical Guidance/Brief Sections on:

Alcohol and Opioid withdrawal.

Prescribing Opiates.

Liaison Psychiatry assessment expectation.

Consistent Layout and Modern Formatting.

Additional subjective feedback showed a high level of gratitude from the resident doctors.

Conclusion:

The results from the survey highlighted an overwhelmingly positive response to the new induction handbook from resident/SAS doctors and consultants. The handbook significantly enhanced the induction experience for new resident doctors and a high level of satisfaction was seen from clinicians who had used a former version of the handbook as well.

We will continue to make the requisite amendments based on the feedback and suggestions for the next PDSA Cycle.

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