Rural competencies in emerging medical practitioners: Beyond clinical skills.

PROBLEM: Recruitment and retention of rural doctors remains a challenge in Australia. The Queensland Rural Generalist Program was developed to address this challenge and provides a range of tailored professional development opportunities to support rural medical training, recruitment and retention. The Rural Generalist Vocational Preparation Workshop was developed to maintain connection with trainees during a known attrition risk period and address a gap in training that focused on competencies required for rural practice. DESIGN: The Rural Generalist Vocational Preparation Workshop, designed using adult learning principles, includes an optimal balance between theory, scenario-based learning and facilitated group discussions. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to evaluate the workshops delivered between 2015 and 2017. SETTING: The workshops were attended by Queensland Rural Generalist Program trainees in the year prior to undertaking a vocational training position in a rural hospital or general practice. Participants were from 10 Hospital and Health Services in the Queensland public health sector at the time of attendance. KEY MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT: An evaluation survey captured participant feedback about the workshop, its value, impact and their intention to implement changes in practice. STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE: Fifty-one trainees attended the workshops across four locations. EFFECTS OF CHANGE: Eight-eight per cent of participants reported intentions to implement changes to practice in: pursuit of career options and enhanced team work, leadership skills and networking. LESSONS LEARNT: Evaluation results indicated that Rural Generalist Vocational Preparation Workshop was a highly valued opportunity. It provided future rural medical practitioners with professional support and networking opportunities, promoted identity formation and stimulated rural career planning.