Authors (including presenting author) :
Wong HSC(1), Chan LM(1), Ng SCJ(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Medicine, Haven of Hope Hospital
Introduction :
Internal medicine has the highest overall attrition counts of full-time doctors in the Hospital Authority. In 2023-2024, 25% of the first-year trainees who quitted were from internal medicine. Research has shown that organisational socialisation tactics help improve employee retention and job satisfaction by creating an effective onboarding experience. A 3-month ‘buddy system’ program was created for the new trainees joining the Department of Medicine in Haven of Hope Hospital in July 2024.
Objectives :
(1)To facilitate smoother onboarding for new physician trainees. (2)To foster the relationship among staff and create a supportive environment. (3)To improve staff retention and reduce turnover.
Methodology :
(1) Discussion was conducted among frontline staff, and key objectives of the buddy system were identified. (2) Higher physician trainees/young fellows who are well-regarded and willing to help as buddies were recruited. Roles of buddies, insights and experience in helping new trainees were shared with them. A communication platform was set up, and continuous support and guidance were provided. (3) Each new trainee was assigned a buddy. Communication between them was encouraged, e.g., trainees asking questions regarding daily work, department culture, and logistics, buddies sharing tips for work and study, struggles and ways to overcome, etc. Social gatherings, such as lunch together and coffee breaks, were also encouraged. (4) Regular reviews and evaluations of the effectiveness of the buddy system were conducted.
Result & Outcome :
There were a total of four new trainees. Each was assigned a buddy. The evaluation was conducted in October 2024 using a questionnaire. Participants were also individually interviewed for comments and feedback. The overall response was positive. All new trainees 'strongly agree' that 'his/her buddy was helpful and supportive', 'shared his/her experiences so that they could handle their work better'; 'the program helped him/her to adapt to their new role and integrate into the new environment better. Having a designated person gave them reassurance that someone would be available to help. All buddies ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that the system has achieved its goals, the workload is acceptable, and adequate support has been provided. The trainees and buddies maintained good relationships even after the program was completed. All of them agreed that the buddy system should be implemented for new trainees next year.
