title: Rural general practice placements: alignment with the Australian Curriculum Framework for Junior Doctors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the available literature regarding skills and competencies gained by junior doctors in rural and regional general practice placements and their alignment with the Australian Curriculum Framework for Junior Doctors (ACFJD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature review using a three-phase process. Articles were initially identified from database searches in OvidSP and Scopus. Additional information was obtained after a hand search of contents pages from relevant journals and from reports, conference abstracts and grey literature. Documented skills and procedures were mapped against the competencies from the ACFJD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed 36 relevant articles written in English and published during 1997-2011. Articles referring to learning outcomes for junior doctors training with rural general practitioners were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence was available of the advantages of junior doctor rural general practice placements in gaining advanced skills in the areas of communication and professionalism, as well as developing autonomy in clinical management and decision making. Less evidence was available regarding exposure to particular clinical conditions and development of specific clinical skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rural and regional general practice placements for junior doctors are likely to comply with the ACFJD requirements and, further, provide excellent learning opportunities in several domains of the curriculum. However, there was little research published confirming learning outcomes for junior doctors in rural general practice settings.
authors: School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia. louise.young1@jcu.edu.au.
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Young
authors: School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors: Sarah L
authors: SL
authors: Larkins
authors: School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors: Tarun K
authors: TK
authors: Sen Gupta
authors: School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors: Suzanne H
authors: SH
authors: McKenzie
authors: School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors: Rebecca J
authors: RJ
authors: Evans
authors: School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Crowe
authors: Queensland Medical Education and Training, ClinEdQ, QLD Health, Mackay, QLD, Australia.
authors: Elizabeth J
authors: EJ
authors: Ware
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D019035:Rural Health Services