Perceptions of preparation for further training: how our medical schools prepare graduates and the perceived factors influencing access to training.

Objective: To investigate the specific factors that graduates perceive to influence their success in obtaining primary training in a chosen field.

Design, Setting And Participants: The New South Wales Medical Registration Board provided data on doctors who were registered to practise between 1995 and 2006. A brief, paper-based survey was sent to a random selection of 2000 doctors.

Independent student study groups.

Background And Objectives: Teachers and students regulate learning to varying degrees in educational programmes in higher education. We present evidence that students in a student-centred medical programme self- and co-regulate their learning in independently formed study groups. We describe the perceived benefits of study groups and the effect of study group membership on student achievement.