The impact of a new format of teaching newsletter in the general paediatric department – A multicentre QIP

Abstract

Objectives

Medical online newsletters have an established role in the continuing education of medical professionals. We aim to measure the impact of implementing of a new, accessible, compact weekly newsletter on the self-motivation, wellbeing, and supported learning of paediatric doctors in the general paediatric departments of 2 hospitals.

Methods

A regular easy-to-read newsletter was sent out weekly via email. This included a teaching timemetable, motivational quote, a section for health awareness days and links for further resources and the RCPCH curricula. The newsletter was implemented in the first hospital from March 2023, and carried on by a new rotation of doctors from September 2023. In the second hospital this started in September 2023. Recipients were surveyed at the end of rotations in March (at the second hospital) and September 2024 (at both hospital). Respondents were grouped into those receiving the newsletter between March- September 2023 in Epsom, after September 2023 in the first hospital, and after September 2023 in the second hospital.

Results

We received a total of 31 responses across 2 surveys. Of the 21 responses in the second survey in September 2024, 6 (28.6%) respondents were paediatric trainees (2 (9.5%) ST1-2; 4 (19%) ST3+), 6 (28.6%) were consultants, and 6 (28.6%) were clinical fellows surveyed across both sites. The remaining respondents were GP trainees and foundation doctors. We do not have the training stages breakdown for the first survey (n=10). Based on the feedback from all 31 respondents combined, 95.2% of respondents liked the format of the newsletter, 100% found it helpful to know the teaching schedule ahead of time, and 100% felt more motivated to attend because of this. Of the 21 respondents in the second survey, 57.1% of respondents in the second survey thought the motivational quote had a positive impact on team wellbeing with 19% replying maybe. When asked what else should be included in the newsletter, respondents suggested including subspecialty teaching sessions (61.9%), teams links for teaching sessions (52.4%), and MDT/ radiology meetings (42.9%). All respondents wanted it to continue for future rotations and 81% wanted other trusts to implement a similar teaching newsletter. Overall, 52.4% of respondents gave the newsletter the highest rating of 5 and the remaining 47.6% gave a rating of 4.

Conclusion

The newsletter was successfully implemented across trusts. Through our survey we have identified obstacles to distribution of the newsletter and collected constructive feedback which will be used to improve the newsletters at both sites. This project serves to further establish the role of newsletters and having structured training programmes in paedatric training in improving motivation and wellbeing.