G405(P) Using digital media to improve access to teaching

Method Uptake of traditional face-to-face MRCPCH written exam teaching sessions in Wales has been poor for three years despite interest being high among trainees. The aim of this project was to explore examinee experiences with the teaching programme and to use learner suggestions as part of a collaborative process to design a new teaching programme. A survey was sent to doctors working in paediatrics in Wales. Data was collected from February until March 2019. Questions included quantitative information on exam teaching uptake as well as qualitative questions on suggestions for improvement. Results were then used to design a new teaching system. Results There were 17 respondents. Reasons given for not attending teaching included having prior clinical commitments (47.1%) or the teaching being held too far from their base hospital (11.8%). The two most popular suggestions to improve teaching were to ‘improve access’ and to ‘teach on difficult topics specifically’, with teaching preferably delivered online. Conclusion Teaching materials previously delivered in teaching sessions were recorded and are always now accessible online. A number of other changes were also introduced or are in development; the introduction of a peer-support network amongst trainees, mentorship support for those trainees struggling with exams and congratulatory emails sent to trainees from the Head of School once they’d passed exams. The biggest development was a new podcast, ‘DragonBytes’. Initially aimed to tackle difficult topics identified by trainees, such as metabolic conditions, the podcast now aims to support trainees more holistically with training. Episodes cover a wider range of topics; reflective writing, careers advice, and so on. Since launch, 395 people have listened, and the website has had over 250 unique views. The most popular episode, ‘Top Tips for Passing Written Exams’ had 88 listens after the first month. Free open access online medical education (FOAMed) is a growing online trend. DragonBytes has joined this movement by ensuring our material is available to trainees across the UK and advertised to them through social media. For future work, we aim to evaluate the success of the podcast, and survey our trainees to determine whether these improvements have helped.