House job - A mess or a success

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the perceptions of doctors undertaking house jobs and the factors affecting their future career decisions.

Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and duration of study: Chaudhary Muhammad Akram Teaching and Research Hospital Lahore Pakistan, January to June 2024.

Participants & Methods: Three hundred and seventy-eight house officers from the private teaching hospital were surveyed using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included 22 items.

Results: The results showed that 69.6% (263) of respondents were male and 30.4% (114) female, with 47.9% (180) having 10 to 12 months of training. Only 28.3% (106) were satisfied with their training, and 57.2% (216) reported not receiving an induction. A significant portion 78% (294) felt their salary was inadequate and 70.8% (267) stated they spent more time on clerical work than clinical duties. Additionally, 64.7% (244) expressed dissatisfaction with their emergency experience, while 65.2% (246) felt unsupported during night shifts. Harassment was reported by 47.1% (178). 66.8% (252) viewed the house job system as disorganized. Regarding career preparation, 43.6% (164) found the house job helpful, but 50.9% (192) lacked confidence in applying their knowledge. Most respondents, 90.7% (342) were satisfied with the 12-month duration and 94.7% (358) favoured three-month specialty rotations. Furthermore, 85.4% (322) preferred a 40-hour work week.

Conclusion: The study identifies; inadequate induction, limited emergency exposure and insufficient night support as key gaps in junior doctors' training.