Responding to registrars' in-consultation calls for assistance: Practical implications from the ReCeNT project

Abstract

Background General practice registrars in Australia are expected to identify and address their knowledge or skills gaps during consultations. The content and frequency of registrars seeking assistance and the factors that influence this have been studied for 84,723 consultations. Term 1 registrars asked their supervisor for help in 11.0% of consultations, but by term 4 this reduced to 1.2% of consultations. Assistance was most often for skin or musculoskeletal conditions, and more often about management than diagnosis. Objective This article discusses the implications of this information for Australian general practice training. Discussion Registrars asked their supervisors for assistance despite having ready access to electronic information. Practices can anticipate supervisor interruptions approximately every tenth registrar consultation. The greater input required by registrars from supervisors earlier in training should be acknowledged by more flexible standards and payments to practices. A priority for general practice supervisor professional development is how to teach the management of complex patients, dermatology and musculoskeletal medicine. © The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 2016.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Not provided

Index Keywords

Skill human Australia general practice diagnosis professional development consultation skin dermatology

Author Affiliations

General Practice Training Tasmania, New Town, TS, Australia, Discipline of General Practice, The University of Newcastle, Australia, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

Department of Health, Health Workforce Division, Canberra, AC, Australia, Central Clinic, NT, Australia, Academic Unit of General Practice, School of Medicine and Psychology, Canberra, ACT, Australia

General Practice Training Tasmania, New Town, TS, Australia

Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

General Practice Training Valley to Coast, NS, Australia

General Practice Training Valley to Coast, NS, Australia, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Australia, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Funding & Acknowledgements

No funding information

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Responding to registrars' in-consultation calls for assistance: Practical implications from the ReCeNT project

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