Study setting and ethical approval

Prior to professional registration as a medical doctor, the Health Professions Council of South Africa requires that all newly qualified doctors undergo a 2-year internship, during which medical graduates can practise their skills under supervision at an accredited institution.^27,35 Ethical approval for the project was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences at University of Cape Town and ethical clearance was granted for the study by Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) where the study was conducted. GSH is a large tertiary academic health facility situated in the Western Cape.³⁶ The hospital has approximately 90 medical interns who rotate through multiple medical and surgical specialties.

Potential ethical problems included protecting the confidentiality of the participants, ensuring that all participants have access to convenient and appropriate mental health care services and that participants receive appropriate feedback.