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Abstract

Purpose: Medical internships lay the foundation for physicians' careers. While the scope of medical practice has broadened, the emphasis on procedural skills remains crucial. However, concerns persist regarding the adequacy of current internship training programs, particularly in the context of the increasing importance of ultrasound-guided procedures (UGPs). This study aims to assess the perceived relevance of procedural skills training and identify skill gaps among medical interns at our institution.

Aim: To assess medical interns' perceptions of the relevance of procedural skills training, with a specific focus on ultrasound guidance and to identify skill gaps within the internship program at our Saudi Arabian institution.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 300 interns at our institution. A validated questionnaire assessed interns’ procedural experience, self-assessed proficiency, and skills gaps. Responses were rated on a 5-point Likert scale.

Results: With a response rate of 76% (female 93%, male 68%) the study achieved an acceptable margin of error and confidence level. The internal consistency was excellent (procedural applicability Cronbach’s alpha 0.95, procedural proficiency Cronbach’s alpha 0.98). Despite recognizing the importance of procedural skills, a substantial proportion (123; 56%) reported no prior procedural experience. Peripheral venous canulation procedure was the most commonly performed procedure, but even excluding this, a significant disparity existed between those performing procedures with (40, 17%) and without ultrasound guidance (61, 27%). Most interns (135, 59%) had missed procedural opportunities because supervisors were unavailable. Our findings revealed significant skill gaps across all procedural domains within the internship program at our institution.

Conclusions: This study reveals a concerning disparity between the perceived importance of procedural skills and the actual training Saudi medical interns receive. Many interns enter residency training with inadequate procedural skills, potentially compromising patient safety and hindering their professional development. This deficiency is particularly evident in the realm of UGPs. Integrating training in UGPs into the core curriculum is crucial to enhance training, improve patient outcomes and better prepare interns for the demands of modern medical practice. Resource-optimized innovative training modalities are crucial to address these deficits effectively within existing constraints.

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