Evaluation of the star family doctors training program: an observational cohort study of a novel continuing medical education program for general practitioners within a compact medical consortium: a quantitative analysis.

INTRODUCTION: To determine the effectiveness of the Star Family Doctors Training Program, a comprehensive Continuing professional development (CPD) program for general practitioners (GPs) in a compact medical consortium. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational cohort study with a quantitative analyses in primary health care institutions in Sichuan Province. The interventions were as following: (1) The Star Family Doctors Training Program is a full-time, local government allocation program certified by the Health Department of Sichuan Province, emphasizing small group learning and practice, and using standard patients and medical patient simulators; 30 participants were selected by their institutions. (2) The control group underwent a self-financed after-work CPD program using conventional lectures; 50 participants were self-selected. Short-term effectiveness assessed using immediate post-training tests and self-evaluations; long-term (1 year) effectiveness evaluated using self-reported surveys. RESULTS: The study involved 80 GPs (28.75% men; mean age: 38.2 ± 9.2 years). The average post-training total score was higher in the STAR group than in the control group (72.83 ± 5.73 vs. 68.18 ± 7.64; p = 0.005). Compared to the controls, STAR participants reported seeing more patients (all p < 0.05), and had more patients who signed family-doctor contracts (p = 0.001) as well as increased patient satisfaction (p = 0.03), respectively. STAR-group trainees appraised the program higher and were more willing to recommend it to colleagues (90% vs. 64%, p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: The Star Family Doctors Training Program achieved good responses and provides a reference for future CPD programs.

[Exploration and Practice of Specialty Training Program in General Practice].

Innovation is the lifeline of medical education reform in the new era. Based on the strategic goals of the Healthy China Initiative, we presented in this paper the practical experience of the Department of General Practice, West China Hospital, Sichuan University. We proposed the construction of an integrated model of general practitioner (GP) core competency training program consisting of 4 components, medical service, management, education, and academic ability. The integration of "generalist-specialist" and "hospital-community health service center" forms the basis of the coordinated training rotation plans. This model of training promotes collaboration among the GPs. Furthermore, GP with special interests (GPwSI) training is organically incorporated into the content of the program. In addition, we discussed the diversified approaches to evaluation incorporating formative and summative evaluation measures adopted for the training program. We summarized the innovative implementation plan of GPwSI, which is an efficient, replicable, and generalizable standardized specialty training program compatible with the Healthy China Initiative, intending to contribute constructive information and references to the education reform of the GP standardized training under the new circumstances.