IGPE Based Education Program
IGPE is committed to delivering excellence in teaching and training through its educational program. We strive to deliver an educational program that engages GP registrars in their learning and enables them to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours to deliver quality General practice in Australia now and in the future.
The IGPE educational program is based on the following practices;
- General practitioners teach general practitioners
- Fostering the art of deductive thinking
- Concentrating on common General practice problems
The content for IGPE based educational program has been developed with input from many sources including.
- RACGP training program curriculum: Most GP supervisors would have a copy of the RACGP training program curriculum. The curriculum emphasises the need to develop an understanding of the concepts, principles and philosophies, which define the discipline of General Practice. This document focuses on key priority health areas, common and significant patient presentations and the domains of general practice.
- General practice activity in Australia 2001-2002. This is the most accurate information available regarding what GPs in Australia commonly see and manage.
- GP registrar activity in IGPE. This was undertaken by IGPE in 2004 and has provided us with detailed information regarding what GP registrars and GP supervisors in IGPE commonly see and manage.
- The SSW Sydney area health morbidity and mortality data enables us to provide an educational program that is regionally focused.
- Continuous evaluation and feedback from GP registrars.
The components of the educational program:
- Half-day release educational sessions
- Workshop program
- Practice based teaching
- Portfolio
- Registrar's own self-directed learning (includes learning from other service providers eg Divisions, Universities etc)
The intention of the program is that all topic areas are re-visited several times throughout different aspects of training, with new dimensions being added at each review.
All registrars are expected to complete a learning portfolio by the end of training. At the start of their basic GP term they are provided with an outline of the contents of this portfolio.
The aims of the portfolio are:
- To progressively document learning and teaching activities throughout training
- To reflect on learning and teaching activities
- To provide opportunities for discussion of learning needs with medical educators and GP supervisors
- To assist in registrar preparation for the RACGP fellowship examination.
Outline of the educational program
Overall in delivering the half-day release and workshop program it is IGPE's intention to provide the following.
- Introduction to the topic, the theoretical aspects
- Case based discussion and problem solving
- critical appraisal of the evidence, where relevant
- A deductive approach or framework that can be used to help with patient presentations
- Opportunities to practice skills in role-play situations and receive feedback.
The practice based teaching, enables the registrar to ‘learn and practice' the skills required to be effective general practitioners. This includes;
- Review of the registrar's knowledge, skills and attitudes.
- Observation of the registrars utilising these skills and receiving feedback.
- A general practice context and approach to patient presentations and problems.
- Opportunity to address issues such as resource availability, cost effectiveness, time management, medical records, medical databases and community resources etc.
The half-day releases all follow a similar format. They involve:
Case discussion
Registrars are expected to present cases to the group. This encourages registrars to reflect on the cases they see, and try and focus on possible gaps in knowledge and skills. Through the case discussion we facilitate the development of deductive reasoning skills and discuss strategies for addressing any gaps that are identified by the GPR.
Topic Presentation
The topics that are presented are decided based on the following information:
- Common problems that GPs and GP registrars see
- Identified clinical ‘gap' areas for GP registrars
- RACGP curriculum areas
- Feedback from GP registrars and GP supervisors.
As mentioned previously a case-based format is often used with an emphasis on providing a general introduction and problem-solving framework. This can then be expanded upon as the registrar's utilise these skills in their general practice terms.
This resource has been developed for basic GP registrars and facilitates the integration of the IGPE educational program and the practice-based teaching. It is a week-by-week case based workbook that links with the educational program and provides GP registrar with a series of activities and questions that they can discuss with their GP supervisor.
This program addresses the topic area that are best suited to a larger group or workshop format with facilitated small groups eg practical procedures, consulting and counselling skills practice through role play and actor sessions. In addition some workshop sessions are held offsite at appropriate community-based locations eg Tharawal Aboriginal Medical Service, Fairfield Hospital.
In looking at the detail about the IGPE educational program and Topics Covered in Each Category Area, it is always important to check the most recent calendar of events. We are always seeking to improve our educational activities and welcome any feedback or input. GP supervisors are welcome to attend any of the sessions held at IGPE. If you are interested in being involved in the delivery of any of the educational sessions don't hesitate to contact the medical education team at IGPE.
Common presenting problems and symptoms
The best available information with respect to what General Practitioners commonly see and manage is the Bettering the evaluation and Care of health (BEACH) data.
