Abstract
Introduction The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) curriculum
represents a consensus on core content including ENT-related content for
newly qualified doctors. However, there is no similar consensus as to
how ENT content should be taught at medical school. Design A virtual
consensus forum was held at the 2nd East of England ENT Conference in
April 2021 to ascertain views of medical students and junior doctors on
how ENT should be taught at medical school. A syllabus of ENT-related
items based on the UKMLA and GMC practical procedures curricula was
divided into ‘Presentations’, ‘Conditions’ and ‘Practical Procedures’.
64 participants (27 students, 11 foundation doctors, and 7 other junior
doctors) voted via anonymous polling for up to three of nine teaching
methods they believed were best suited to teach each syllabus item.
Results For ‘Presentations’, work-based/clinical-based learning and
small-group seminars were significantly more popular than other methods,
a further two were of middling popularity, and the remaining five
(including simulation and e-learning) were significantly less popular.
‘Conditions’ results were near-identical, with work-based/clinical-based
learning and small-group seminars significantly more popular than the
remaining teaching methods. For ‘Practical procedures’ the three
practical teaching methods were significantly more popular than the six
theoretical methods. Conclusion Students and junior doctors express
clear preference for clinical-based teaching and small-group seminars
when learning ENT content. E-learning is poorly favoured, despite being
increasingly used by medical schools and teaching bodies. Co-design of
clinical training between students and educators may ensure training
better matches students’ needs and expectations.