Impact of a Clinical Orientation Programme as perceived by new entrant international medical graduate resident doctors partaking in the programme: Results from an NHS district hospital survey

ABSTRACT Background International Medical Graduates (IMGs) constitute 40% of the NHS resident doctor workforce. However, there is no documented clinical orientation programme (COP) facilitating their transition into the workplace. We developed and implemented a structured COP to support new entrant IMGs. Method Survey data was collected from new entrant IMGs in medicine who completed the COP between December 2017 and December 2019. In addition, formal feedback was collected from supervising registrars during the COP period. Data was analysed, and a framework was developed to assess impact using realist evaluation. Results 97% (31of 32) of IMGs completed the survey. Results revealed 84% were satisfied with the programme, 81% felt confident they were prepared to begin clinical posts at completion of the programme, and 90% would recommend this programme. In addition, the overall comments from the IMGs were positive and supportive of the COP. Moreover, feedback from supervising registrars was complementary. It was seen that 87% of IMGs remained Trust employees with a mean tenure of 13 months. Of those eligible, 90% completed their annual appraisal. Conclusion This report confirms that Trust in this COP results in a high degree of satisfaction, workforce retention and performance of new entrant IMGs. Larger scale implementation is recommended.