title: An evaluation of the experience of integrated GP training placements in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Deanery.
abstract: Innovative/integrated training posts (ITPs) are an increasingly established feature of vocational training for GPStRs. They aim to extend exposure to primary care in the early years of specialty training. To date, there has been little evaluation of the post and no studies investigating how ITPs are variously structured. This research of an ITP scheme operated by the Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) Deanery is the first comprehensive study of ITPs across a whole deanery. The registrars on integrated placement, their GP trainers and hospital/community-based education supervisors took part in the study reported here. Participants reported integrated training to be an effective model to develop GPStRs. Early and extended exposure and orientation to primary care were seen as key benefits. The secondary placement component provided relevant specialist training applicable to primary care. ITPs provided GPStRs with relevant learning to support the requirements of the GP curriculum. Problems identified by previous research such as integration within teams were not reported as an issue in this study. Continuity issues were, however, highlighted. Reporting on the different ITP models utilised within the Deanery, we find that GPStRs with greater exposure to primary care perceive the programme as being more effective than those with less exposure.
authors: London South Bank University, UK. griffir3@lsbu.ac.uk
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Griffin
authors: Abdol
authors: A
authors: Tavabie
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: McLean
mesh_terms: D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D017145:Models, Educational; D011320:Primary Health Care; D006113:United Kingdom