Engaging rural preceptors in new longitudinal community clerkships during workforce shortage: a qualitative study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In keeping with its mission to produce doctors for rural and regional Australia, the University of Wollongong, Graduate School of Medicine has established an innovative model of clinical education. This includes a 12-month integrated...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2011-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/12/103 |
| _version_ | 1818117708560990208 |
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| author | Weston Kathryn M Hudson Judith N Farmer Elizabeth A |
| author_facet | Weston Kathryn M Hudson Judith N Farmer Elizabeth A |
| author_sort | Weston Kathryn M |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In keeping with its mission to produce doctors for rural and regional Australia, the University of Wollongong, Graduate School of Medicine has established an innovative model of clinical education. This includes a 12-month integrated community-based clerkship in a regional or rural setting, offering senior students longitudinal participation in a 'community of practice' with access to continuity of patient care experiences, continuity of supervision and curriculum, and individualised personal and professional development. This required developing new teaching sites, based on attracting preceptors and providing them with educational and physical infrastructure. A major challenge was severe health workforce shortages.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Before the new clerkship started, we interviewed 28 general practitioners to determine why they engaged as clerkship preceptors. Independent researchers conducted semi-structured interviews. Responses were transcribed for inductive qualitative content analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The new model motivated preceptors to engage because it enhanced their opportunities to contribute to authentic learning when compared with the perceived limitations of short-term attachments. Preceptors appreciated the significant recognition of the value of general practice teaching and the honour of major involvement in the university. They predicted that the initiative would have positive effects on general practitioner morale and improve the quality of their practice. Other themes included the doctors' commitment to their profession, 'handing on' to the next generation and helping their community to attract doctors in the future.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Supervisors perceive that new models of clinical education offer alternative solutions to health care education, delivery and workforce. The longitudinal relationship between preceptor, student and community was seen as offering reciprocal benefits. General practitioners are committed to refining practice and ensuring generation of new members in their profession. They are motivated to engage in novel regional and rural longitudinal clinical clerkships as they perceive that they offer students an authentic learning experience and are a potential strategy to help address workforce shortages and maldistribution.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T04:42:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c7f0283e13004903969d6de8ac752c49 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T04:42:42Z |
| publishDate | 2011-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7f0283e13004903969d6de8ac752c492022-12-22T01:20:36ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962011-09-0112110310.1186/1471-2296-12-103Engaging rural preceptors in new longitudinal community clerkships during workforce shortage: a qualitative studyWeston Kathryn MHudson Judith NFarmer Elizabeth A<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In keeping with its mission to produce doctors for rural and regional Australia, the University of Wollongong, Graduate School of Medicine has established an innovative model of clinical education. This includes a 12-month integrated community-based clerkship in a regional or rural setting, offering senior students longitudinal participation in a 'community of practice' with access to continuity of patient care experiences, continuity of supervision and curriculum, and individualised personal and professional development. This required developing new teaching sites, based on attracting preceptors and providing them with educational and physical infrastructure. A major challenge was severe health workforce shortages.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Before the new clerkship started, we interviewed 28 general practitioners to determine why they engaged as clerkship preceptors. Independent researchers conducted semi-structured interviews. Responses were transcribed for inductive qualitative content analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The new model motivated preceptors to engage because it enhanced their opportunities to contribute to authentic learning when compared with the perceived limitations of short-term attachments. Preceptors appreciated the significant recognition of the value of general practice teaching and the honour of major involvement in the university. They predicted that the initiative would have positive effects on general practitioner morale and improve the quality of their practice. Other themes included the doctors' commitment to their profession, 'handing on' to the next generation and helping their community to attract doctors in the future.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Supervisors perceive that new models of clinical education offer alternative solutions to health care education, delivery and workforce. The longitudinal relationship between preceptor, student and community was seen as offering reciprocal benefits. General practitioners are committed to refining practice and ensuring generation of new members in their profession. They are motivated to engage in novel regional and rural longitudinal clinical clerkships as they perceive that they offer students an authentic learning experience and are a potential strategy to help address workforce shortages and maldistribution.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/12/103community-based educationlongitudinal clinical clerkshipsmedical educationrural healthpreceptor recruitmentworkforce maldistributionqualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Weston Kathryn M Hudson Judith N Farmer Elizabeth A Engaging rural preceptors in new longitudinal community clerkships during workforce shortage: a qualitative study BMC Family Practice community-based education longitudinal clinical clerkships medical education rural health preceptor recruitment workforce maldistribution qualitative research |
| title | Engaging rural preceptors in new longitudinal community clerkships during workforce shortage: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Engaging rural preceptors in new longitudinal community clerkships during workforce shortage: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Engaging rural preceptors in new longitudinal community clerkships during workforce shortage: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Engaging rural preceptors in new longitudinal community clerkships during workforce shortage: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Engaging rural preceptors in new longitudinal community clerkships during workforce shortage: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | engaging rural preceptors in new longitudinal community clerkships during workforce shortage a qualitative study |
| topic | community-based education longitudinal clinical clerkships medical education rural health preceptor recruitment workforce maldistribution qualitative research |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2296/12/103 |
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