Learner Engagement in Postgraduate Anaesthesia Speciality Training

Purpose: Research has shown continuing medical education improves doctor performance, new educational approaches improving educational outcomes and individual reflection can help identify learner needs positively improving clinical performance. This study addresses: 1. How do doctors on postgraduate anaesthesia specialist training programme engage across Postgraduate Medical Education teaching sessions?2. What are the enablers and barriers to learner engagement?3. Using the benefits of a balanced and informative mixed method approach to identify how Learner Engagement can be affected by clicker technology in this specific group.Methods: A triangulation convergent mixed method approach using 1. Semi structured interviews were conducted with Non Consultant Hospital Doctors 2. A quantitative in class engagement measurement Tool was applied using observers with and without audience response systems. The IEM tool was used in 20 Postgraduate Medical Education sessions. A mixed methods approach was used to integrate findings. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed separately and integrated. Equal weighting was given to both strands. Results: 8 semi-structured interviews were undertaken and 20 sessions incorporating Didactic lectures, CaseBased Discussion and clicker technology. Most frequent IEM scores for the instructor behaviours were ‘1’[Talking to the class] in all three formats. Most frequent scores for the student behaviours were ‘3’[Listening to the instructor or a talking student/looking at slides or board] in DL and CS (70.1% and 61.3% respectively), ‘4’[Talking to the instructor/reading something to entire class or writing something on the board] in CBD (49.2%). The 4Rs of learner engagement: readiness, reflection, recap and retain are core building blocks of LE before during and after a teaching session. Discussion: Postgraduate medical learners engage through the 4 Rs of LE. The wellbeing of the learner cannot be underestimated and is a major influential factor in Learner Engagement. Clickers influence engagement through the enablement and enhancement of the 4Rs.