Opinions, Perceptions, & Thoughts of British Resident Doctors on Orthopaedics

NCT07281560 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 25ORT278
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 300
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Orthopaedic surgery is one of the largest surgical specialties in the UK, delivering high-volume, high-impact care across trauma and elective pathways. Despite this, the specialty continues to face challenges in recruitment, diversity, inclusivity and perceptions of workload and culture. International literature suggests that impressions formed during undergraduate and early postgraduate training strongly influence specialty choice; however, contemporary UK-specific data on how resident doctors view orthopaedics remain limited. The ORTHO BRO Study is a cross-sectional, anonymous online survey designed to capture UK trainees' perceptions of orthopaedics, compare views between those with and without prior orthopaedic rotations, and explore spontaneous associations. Findings will inform training improvement, inclusivity initiatives, and recruitment strategies. The study targets UK foundation doctors (F1/F2), core trainees (CT1/CT2), and trust-grade/non-training senior house officers (SHOs) across multiple trusts/foundation schools.

Conditions

Perceptions of Orthopaedic Surgery Among UK Resident Doctors

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Perceived inclusivity of the specialty

  Measured using responses to: "I would consider orthopaedics to be an inclusive specialty." Quantified on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree).Mean scores will be compared between participants with and without prior orthopaedic experience.

  Baseline (At a single time point: at completion of the online survey)

• Perceived work-life balance

  Measured using responses to: "I believe orthopaedics offers a good work-life balance." Quantified on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Mean scores will be compared between participants with and without prior orthopaedic experience.

  Baseline (At a single time point: at completion of the online survey)

• Interest in pursuing a career in orthopaedics

  Measured using responses to: "Would you personally consider pursuing a career in orthopaedics?" Quantified on a 5-point Likert scale (definitely no → definitely yes). Used to explore the relationship between perceptions (inclusivity, lifestyle) and career interest.

  Baseline (At a single time point: at completion of the online survey)

Study Arms (3)

Foundation Doctors

Foundation Year 1 and Year 2 doctors currently employed in the NHS

Core Trainees

Core Trainees Year 1 and Year 2 currently employed in the NHS

Non-training/Trust-grade SHOs

Non-training/Trust-grade Senior House Officers currently employed in the NHS

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Foundation Doctors (F1/F2), Core Trainees (CT 1/CT2) and Non-training/Trust-grade senior house officers (SHOs) currently employed in the NHS, regardless of whether they have previously worked or completed a placement in Orthopaedics.

You may qualify if:

• Are currently employed within the UK National Health Service (NHS) as a Foundation Year 1 (F1), Foundation Year 2 (F2), Core Training Year 1 (CT1), Core Training Year 2 (CT2) or trust-grade/non-training senior house officer (SHO).
• Are aged 18 years or older.
• Are able to read and understand English sufficiently to comprehend the participant information and complete the online questionnaire.
• Are willing and able to provide electronic informed consent before taking part.
• Agree to participate voluntarily and understand that participation is anonymous and non-compulsory.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust: lead

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 25, 2025
• First Posted: December 15, 2025
• Study Start: January 15, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 14, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 14, 2026
• Last Updated: December 15, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12