The value of early-years healthcare assistant apprenticeships for medical students – A 5-year follow-up study​
Creators: name: Luff, Ed
name: Hettle, David
name: Murray, Sally
name: Jefferies, Elisabeth
name: Afsara Ahmmed
Publisher: name: F1000 Research Limited
Year: 2023

description: <b>The value of early-years healthcare assistant apprenticeships for medical students – A 5-year follow-up study </b><br> <br> <b>Background </b><br> Medical students at Bristol Medical school undertake healthcare assistant (HCA) shifts during their first year of study. In current literature, the impact on students immediately after shifts has been ascertained, as well as the impact of doing HCA shifts alongside clinical studies (1,2,3). However, it is unclear if that impact has lasted and persisted into students’ subsequent studies. This research aimed to assess if students have taken this learning forward into their future placements during subsequent medical school training. <br> <br> <b>Summary of Work </b><br> Students across years 2-5, who had previously participated in HCA shifts, were invited to answer an online questionnaire. This aimed to identify student reactions and provide a breadth of data from a large population. Data from two separate questionnaires have been pooled, with questions only combined with either exact or very similar wording. Some broader themes are also discussed where questions could not be combined due to heterogeneity. <br> <br> <b>Summary of Results </b><br> 88 participants completed one of two questionnaires. Most students (82%) had not completed HCA shifts before starting the course, but more than half (67%) continued to undertake HCA work after completing their shifts. 60% of students felt that completing the shifts had influenced their decision to continue to undertake work as an HCA. Three-quarters of students either Strongly Agreed or Agreed that they felt more confident being in the clinical environment (72.5%) and communicating with patients (75%). 98% of respondents in one survey felt that all medical students should complete HCA shifts, while 77.5% felt the shifts benefitted their onward career in the other. <br> <br> <b>Discussion and Conclusion </b><br> Medical students gain huge value in undertaking HCA shifts during their early years of training. This benefit appears to sustain and last into subsequent years, with many going on to complete further HCA work, citing the compulsory shifts as an influence in their decision. <br> <br> Common themes included developing clinical skills, gaining more clinical exposure, teamwork, appreciation of other healthcare professionals' roles and understanding of how wards work in real life. Others discussed improved communication skills, improved confidence with patients and staff and increased empathy towards patients and staff. <br> <br> <b>Take home messages </b> Medical students gain huge value in undertaking HCA shifts during their early years of training This benefit seems to sustain and last into subsequent years HCA shifts present opportunities for clinical, communication and systems-related education <b>References </b><br> 1. Davison, E. and Lindqvist, S., 2020. Medical students working as health care assistants: an evaluation. The clinical teacher, 17(4), pp.382-388. <br> 2. Davison, E., Semlyen, J. and Lindqvist, S., 2021. “From doing to knowing”: medical students’ experiences of working as Healthcare Assistants. Journal of Interprofessional Care, pp.1-7. <br> 3. Walker, B., Wallace, D., Mangera, Z. and Gill, D., 2017. Becoming ‘ward smart’ medical students. The clinical teacher, 14(5), pp.336-339.