General Practice On-the-Job Training in Chinese Urban Community: A Qualitative Study on Needs and Challenges

TLDR

On‑the‑job training is a key strategy in China to build basic professional competence among general practitioners for community health services. The study aimed to explore the needs and challenges of on‑the‑job training for general practitioners and to advise policymakers on improving the program. The authors used nominal group techniques, 17 in‑depth interviews, and 3 focus groups, and analyzed audiotapes and transcripts via content analysis to identify major themes and key needs. The study found that time conflicts, insufficient qualified preceptors, and limited funding hinder training, and recommended that governments resolve work‑training conflicts, continuously train preceptors, and increase financial support.

Abstract

On-the-job training is an important strategy for general practitioners to deliver appropriately community health services in China. The development of basic professional competence for general practitioners is the main goal of on-the-job training program. The aim of this study was to explore the needs of and the challenges to on-the-job training for general practitioners, and to provide advices for policy-makers to carry out this program more effectively.We conducted 3 nominal group techniques, 17 in-depth interviews and 3 focus groups to identify the status of, needs of and challenges to on-the-job training for general practitioners in Liaoning, Ningxia, and Fujian provinces from September 2011 until December 2011. Audiotapes and transcripts were analyzed to identify major themes. Content analysis of the data was completed from January 2012 to March 2012.Basic theoretical knowledge and clinical skills were the main needs for general practitioners during on-the-job training. The challenges during training included the time contradiction between work and training, deficiencies of qualified preceptors, and lack of training funds. Participants gave recommendations how to resolve the above problems.In order to improve the outcomes of general practice on-the-job training, it is necessary for government officials to resolve the contradiction between work and training, train preceptors continuously, and increase financial support in the training program.