What competencies do European general practice trainees value the most? A prioritisation exercise using a Delphi-informed approach

Educ Prim Care. 2023 Jul;34(4):192-198. doi: 10.1080/14739879.2023.2222718. Epub 2023 Jul 16.

Abstract

General Practice has changed over the past decade. Expansion of clinicians' roles may create uncertainty, stress, and overload - particular for those at the start of their career. The WONCA Europe network for medical education, EURACT, has published competency-based aims and requirements for speciality training in general practice. Greater understanding of the trainee perspective would support planning and delivery of postgraduate training curricula. This two-step study aims to provide a competency priority list, created by European early career general practitioners, to highlight skills that this generation considers highly essential in future speciality training. A competency list was drafted with trainee- and early career general practitioners from across Europe at the Vasco da Gama Movement Forum (Edinburgh, January 2022). Participants identified competencies that they regarded as most relevant for future speciality training in their respective national contexts. Competencies were coded into categories and ranked in two consecutive rounds, the first taking place online and the second at WONCA Europe (London, June 2022). After two rounds, a consensual list of three main competencies for each category was drafted. The top three competencies for each category remained the same throughout both rounds and may be considered competencies that early career general practitioners in Europe consider important for training. Prioritisation of these competencies by institutions and educators within general practice training programmes may support trainees' satisfaction and perceived preparedness for practice.

Keywords: competencies; curriculum; general practice; medical education; speciality training.

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Competence
  • Curriculum
  • Education, Medical*
  • Family Practice
  • General Practice*
  • Humans

Grants and funding

HJ & FD received funds for the participation at the EYFDM Edinburgh Forum and the WONCA London from the German college of Family Medicine (DEGAM) and Saarland University (employer). AP received funds from Keele University (employer) and the Royal College of General Practice (RCGP), and Wonca Europe. All other authors did not receive any funding associated with the work featured in this article.