Hospital grand rounds in Australia

Objective: To determine whether grand rounds are becoming less common in Australian hospitals. Design and participants: Between November 2003 and April 2004, we surveyed 88 clinicians with educational responsibilities in Australian hospitals. A written questionnaire evaluated whether grand rounds were held and how frequently; the structure and percentage of attendees; and the perceived value of grand rounds with regard to education, professional development and general characteristics. Results: Clinicians in 73/88 hospitals completed the survey (83% response rate). Of the 73 respondents, 63 reported that their hospitals continued to hold grand rounds, and most considered them to be valuable in the areas surveyed. Grand rounds were more common in larger hospitals, public hospitals, and those having junior medical officers. The proportion of clinical staff regularly attending grand rounds was estimated to be 10%-50% by most respondents. Conclusion: Grand rounds continue in the majority of hospitals and are considered valuable for educational and professional reasons. There may be scope for improving attendance at grand rounds by greater emphasis on the specific needs of attendees.