Workplace learning in general practice: supervision, patient mix and independence emerge from the black box once again.
BACKGROUND
Medical students increasingly participate in rotations in primary care settings, such as general practices. Although general practices can differ markedly from hospital settings, research on the instructional quality of general practice rotations is relatively scarce.


OBJECTIVE
We conducted a study to identify which aspects make a significant contribution to the instructional quality of general practice clerkships, as perceived by students.


METHODS
After completing their general practice attachment, 155 fifth-year medical students filled out an evaluation questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis identified clusters of correlated independent variables. Subsequent regression analysis revealed the relations between the reduced set of independent variables and the dependent variable 'Instructional quality'.


RESULTS
Both the quality of supervision and the size and diversity of the patient mix substantially affected students' experienced instructional quality. Opportunities and facilities to perform independently were correlated with instructional quality, but did not affect the instructiveness directly.


CONCLUSIONS
Supervision, patient mix and independence are crucial factors for learning in general practice. This is consistent with findings in hospital settings. The perceived quality of instruction hinges on supervision, which is not only the variable most strongly related to instructional quality, but which also affects both the patient mix and students' independence.
van der Zwet
J
J
Department of Educational Development and Research, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. j.vanderzwet@educ.unimaas.nl
Hanssen
V G A
VG
Zwietering
P J
PJ
Muijtjens
A M M
AM
Van der Vleuten
C P M
CP
Metsemakers
J F M
JF
Scherpbier
A J J A
AJ
D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*