title: Rural general practice training: experience of a rural general practice team and a postgraduate year two registrar.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Undertaking training in rural areas is a recognised way of helping recruit staff to work in rural communities. Postgraduate year two medical doctors in New Zealand have been able to undertake a three-month placement in rural practice as part of their pre-vocational training experience since November 2010.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the experience of a rural general practice team providing training to a postgraduate year two medical trainee, and to describe the teaching experience and range of conditions seen by the trainee.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pre- and post-placement interview with staff, and analysis of a logbook of cases and teaching undertaken in the practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The practice team's experience of having the trainee was positive, and the trainee was exposed to a wide range of conditions over 418 clinical encounters. The trainee received 22.5 hours of formal training over the three-month placement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rural general practice can provide a wide range of clinical experience to a postgraduate year two medical trainee. Rural practices in New Zealand should be encouraged to offer teaching placements at this training level. Exposure to rural practice at every level of training is important to encourage doctors to consider rural practice as a career.
authors.affiliation: The University of Auckland Academic Co-ordinator, Church Street Surgery, Opotiki, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. drjo@opotikigp.co.nz
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott-Jones
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lucas
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D002983:Clinical Competence; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013337:Students, Medical; D000078329:Workforce