Are today's junior doctors confident in managing patients with minor injury?

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the confidence of junior doctors in managing minor injuries, compared with other common acute conditions. Method: A questionnaire designed to elicit areas of confidence and subjective competence was distributed to junior doctors working in the emergency department in December 2004. Results: Junior doctors felt most competent and confident working with medical trolley patients and least competent working with patients with minor injury. A lack of teaching and experience in handling minor injuries (which are seen by nurse practitioners in a separate unit during the day) was highlighted. Conclusions: Nurse-led minor injury units may have an effect on junior doctors' experience and confidence in minor injury care. Further effort needs to be made to increase the training of junior doctors in minor injury care.