Improving skin cancer care with a general practitioner training programme

Abstract Background: In China, general practitioners have limited ability to provide care for common chronic non-communicable diseases because they lack postgraduate training. In an attempt to improve general practitioners’ skills in this regard, the present authors previously launched the Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Training Programme. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this programme.Methods: Thirty-nine trainee general practitioners who participated in the programme underwent semi-structured interviews, which explored how they performed the training, what they achieved from the programme, and their suggestions for future programmes. The interview data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.Results: Under the guidance of supervisors, the thirty-nine trainee general practitioners completed the structured but individualised training plan, which comprised a four-day basic theory class, three months practicing in a ward, and six months assisting in an outpatient clinic. They reported an improvement in their ability to provide care for chronic non-communicable diseases and perform two-way referral, as well as their communication with patients. They also reported that, since returning to their communities, they had become more confident, were building better relationships with their patients, and had changed their clinic behaviours from copying prescriptions to making medical decisions independently. Their principal suggestion for the training programme was to alter the order of the training, as they preferred to practice in the ward before assisting in the outpatient clinic.Conclusion: The course comprised a learner-centred, practice- and apprenticeship-based, general-practitioner training programme. Given the participants’ progress and the beneficial effects of the programme reported in the interview data, it appears to be worthwhile to extend the General Practitioner Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Training Programme.

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Qualitative evaluation of the general practitioner chronic non-communicable diseases training programme

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-020-02226-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chunyu Zhang ◽

Fang Fang ◽

Mingqiang Peng ◽

Ying Zhao ◽

Ruixue Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Practitioner ◽

General Practitioners ◽

Outpatient Clinic ◽

Qualitative Evaluation ◽

Training Programme ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

Interview Data ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Non Communicable Diseases ◽

Practitioner Training

Abstract Background In China, general practitioners have limited ability to provide care for common chronic non-communicable diseases because they lack postgraduate training. In an attempt to improve general practitioners’ skills in this regard, the present authors previously launched the Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Training Programme. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this programme. Methods Thirty-nine trainee general practitioners who participated in the programme underwent semi-structured interviews, which explored how they performed the training, what they achieved from the programme, and their suggestions for future programmes. The interview data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results Under the guidance of supervisors, the thirty-nine trainee general practitioners completed the structured but individualised training plan, which comprised a four-day basic theory class, 3 months practising in a ward, and 6 months assisting in an outpatient clinic. They reported an improvement in their ability to provide care for chronic non-communicable diseases and perform two-way referral, as well as their communication with patients. They also reported that, since returning to their communities, they had become more confident, were building better relationships with their patients, and had changed their clinic behaviours from copying prescriptions to making medical decisions independently. Their principal suggestion for the training programme was to alter the order of the training, as they preferred to practice in the ward before assisting in the outpatient clinic. Conclusion The course comprised a learner-centred, practice- and apprenticeship-based, general-practitioner training programme. Given the participants’ progress and the beneficial effects of the programme reported in the interview data, it appears to be worthwhile to extend the General Practitioner Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Training Programme.

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Qualitative Evaluation of the General Practitioner Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Training Programme

10.21203/rs.3.rs-40862/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Chunyu Zhang ◽

Fang Fang ◽

Mingqiang Peng ◽

Ying Zhao ◽

Ruixue Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Practitioner ◽

General Practitioners ◽

Outpatient Clinic ◽

Qualitative Evaluation ◽

Training Programme ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

Interview Data ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Non Communicable Diseases ◽

Practitioner Training

Abstract Background: In China, general practitioners have limited ability to provide care for common chronic non-communicable diseases because they lack postgraduate training. In an attempt to improve general practitioners’ skills in this regard, the present authors previously launched the Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Training Programme. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this programme.Methods: Thirty-nine trainee general practitioners who participated in the programme underwent semi-structured interviews, which explored how they performed the training, what they achieved from the programme, and their suggestions for future programmes. The interview data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.Results: Under the guidance of supervisors, the thirty-nine trainee general practitioners completed the structured but individualised training plan, which comprised a four-day basic theory class, three months practising in a ward, and six months assisting in an outpatient clinic. They reported an improvement in their ability to provide care for chronic non-communicable diseases and perform two-way referral, as well as their communication with patients. They also reported that, since returning to their communities, they had become more confident, were building better relationships with their patients, and had changed their clinic behaviours from copying prescriptions to making medical decisions independently. Their principal suggestion for the training programme was to alter the order of the training, as they preferred to practice in the ward before assisting in the outpatient clinic.Conclusion: The course comprised a learner-centred, practice- and apprenticeship-based, general-practitioner training programme. Given the participants’ progress and the beneficial effects of the programme reported in the interview data, it appears to be worthwhile to extend the General Practitioner Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Training Programme.

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ENT and general practice: A study of paediatric ENT problems seen in general practice and recommendations for general practitioner training in ENT in Ireland

Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) ◽

10.1007/bf02967831 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 164 (3) ◽

pp. 209-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

M. J. Donnelly ◽

M. S. Quraishi ◽

D. P. McShane

Keyword(s):

General Practice ◽

General Practitioner ◽

Practitioner Training

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A general practitioner STD training programme: meeting education and service provision needs

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1258/0956462981921477 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 731-735 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

L Wray ◽

S C Barrie

Keyword(s):

General Practitioner ◽

Service Provision ◽

Training Programme

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Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-enhanced communication skills: development and evaluation of a novel training programme

BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care ◽

10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002786 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. bmjspcare-2020-002786

Author(s):

Nicholas J Hulbert-Williams ◽

Lee Hulbert-Williams ◽

Pandora Patterson ◽

Sahil Suleman ◽

Lesley Howells

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽

Cancer Care ◽

Psychological Flexibility ◽

Training Programme ◽

Free Text ◽

Evaluation Data ◽

Commitment Therapy ◽

Acceptance And Commitment

BackgroundPsychological suffering is ubiquitous with cancer and frequently presents as an unmet supportive care need. In clinical practice, distress-related needs are often addressed by nurses and non-psychologist allied healthcare professionals who may have limited training in psychological therapeutic frameworks, particularly more recently developed interventions such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).AimsWe developed a single-day training programme for professionals working in supportive and palliative cancer care settings to change the nature of clinical communication about psychological distress and suffering towards an ACT-consistent approach.MethodWe report on experiences of training delivery, and evaluation data about training satisfaction and intention to apply the training to clinical practice, from three training iterations in British and Australian, government-funded and charitable sectors. One hundred and sixteen cancer care professionals participated in the training. Evaluation data were collected from 53 participants (at either 2-week or 3-month follow-ups, or both) using self-report survey, including both quantitative and free-text questions.ResultsAt 2 week follow-up, 73% of trainees rating our course as having relevance to their work, and at 3 month follow-up, 46% agreed that they were better placed to provide improved clinical services. Qualitative feedback supported the inclusion of experiential learning and theoretical explanations underpinning ACT techniques. Undertaking this training did not significantly increase trainees’ stress levels, nor did implementation of this new way of working negatively affect staff well-being. Positive, ACT-consistent, changes in communication behaviours and attitudes were reported, however there was a lack of significant change in psychological flexibility.DiscussionAcceptability and applicability of this training to supportive and palliative healthcare is positive. The lack of change in psychological flexibility suggests a potential need for more experiential content in the training programme. Logistical challenges in one training group suggests the need for more robust train-the-trainer models moving forward.

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