Current status of post competency evaluation index system for general practitioners in China: a systematic review / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the current status of the post competency evaluation index systems of Chinese general practitioners (GPs), and to summarize the post competency evaluation index systems of GPs in China.Methods:This study was a systematic review. We searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, China Science and Technology Journal Database (CQVIP), SinoMed, PubMed and other databases using "general practitioner" or "family doctor" or "standardized training for residents" or "post competency" or "evaluation system" or "core capability" or "assessment" or "evaluation" etc. as search terms and adding free words. The search was conducted from data establishment to October 2022. Literature screening and data extraction were carried out independently by 2 researchers using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Ekman quality evaluation tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included literature. Excel was used to extract data information, including basic information of literatures, basic information of index systems and index content.Results:A total of 1 284 literatures were retrieved and 33 studies were included. A total of 15 research methods were used, and 28 (84.8%) applied 3 or more methods. There were 14 studies (42.4%) with good reliability and validity, and 17 studies (51.5%) with index weights. There were 12 applied theoretical bases, of which 20 studies (60.6%) used mature foreign competency models as a reference, 14 studies (42.4%) combined the job analysis and position requirements of GPs, and 11 studies (33.3%) interpreted policy documents. The content analysis method yielded 1 537 initial indicators, 1 268 indicators after eliminating repeated indicators, and 6 first-level indicators and 31 second-level indicators after combining and summarizing. Among the first-level indexes, "patient care" appeared most frequently (36.4% (462/1 268)); the secondary index with the highest frequency in this dimension was "master medical theoretical knowledge" followed by "community-oriented care ability" and "treatment and follow-up of common and frequently-occurring diseases"; the indicators "family-based care ability" and "human-centered care concept" reflected the characteristics of general medical practice. The frequency of "professional spirit and moral quality" (16.3%(207/1 268)), "clinical teaching and learning ability" (14.3%(181/1 268)) and "system-based practical ability"(11.1%(141/1 268)) ranked second, third and fourth among the first-level indicators respectively. The frequency of "basic public health service ability" (11.0%(139/1 268)) ranked the fifth, and the secondary indicator "health management of key community groups" reflected the concept of the whole life cycle of residents and the basic principle of continuity of care in general medicine. The frequency of "interpersonal and communication skills"(10.9%(138/1 268)) ranked sixth.Conclusions:There have been numerous researches on the post competency index evaluation system of GPs in China, but more research is still needed. There are many research methods with rich theoretical basis and Chinese characteristics. This study summarized the post competency evaluation index systems of GPs in China, generalized 6 first-level indicators and 31 second-level indicators that reflect the basic principles and characteristics of general medicine.