Relationship Between Level of Confidence and Readiness to Work Among Medical Graduates: A Cross Sectional Study in a Public University
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Abstract
Introduction: Junior doctors’ readiness for work positively impacts their well-being. Confidence in performing essential workplace skills is a contributing factor to work readiness. The aim of this study was to assess the level of confidence, and other factors associated with work readiness among medical graduates. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a public Malaysian university, involving all medical graduates from 2020 to 2022. Participants were given an online survey asking to rate their confidence levels in generic, practical, and personal skills, as well as their overall confidence and readiness to work, using the “Confidence and Readiness to Work as a House Officer Questionnaire,” which uses a Likert scale from 1-5. Higher scores on the questionnaire indicated higher levels of confidence and readiness. Results: The readiness level was 2.96 (0.85). The overall mean (SD) confidence level of the participants was 3.10 (0.85), while for overall generic, practical and personal skills were 3.87 (0.53), 3.32 (0.61) and 3.66 (0.69), respectively. Significant correlations were found between the level of confidence in all the generic, practical, personal skills and readiness to work. Furthermore, the participants' overall reported level of readiness was significantly correlated with their levels of work readiness (r=0.734, p<0.001). No significant associations were observed between sociodemographic factors and readiness to work. Conclusion: Medical graduates' readiness to work strongly correlates with their confidence in the skills required as house officers. It is recommended that future research investigate additional factors that contribute to work readiness.
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