title: The brave new world of older patients: preparing general practice training for an ageing population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Develop and pilot test evidence-based resources for general practice training practices to enhance older patients' (65+ years) interactions with General Practice Registrars (GPRs).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In Australia, general practice trainees, referred to as GPRs, see fewer older patients and patients with chronic conditions than doctors who have completed their specialist GP training. This reduces learning opportunities for GPRs in the management of these important patient groups. Therefore, developing effective strategies to improve GPR-older patient interaction is critical to primary care training, to meet the current and future needs of an ageing population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adopting a social marketing approach, GPR practice resources were developed to address knowledge and attitudinal barriers at the practice and patient level to improve older patient comfort, and willingness to engage, with GPR care. Two focus groups with older patients (n=18) and interviews with staff of training practices (n=12) were utilised to pre-test resources. Amended resources were pilot tested and evaluated in a naturalistic GPR training practice setting using a structured patient questionnaire (n=44).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pilot evaluation suggests improved comfort and willingness of older patients to interact with GPRs. In all, 54% of survey participants indicated they would be more likely to make an appointment with a Registrar in the future as a result of exposure to the resources. In all, 40% of patients would feel comfortable having a GPR manage a complex or chronic condition, which compares favourably with 28% of similarly aged patients in previous research. The use of tailored, engaging and informative GPR resources for older patients and practice staff may be an important contributor to addressing the growing problem of ensuring GPRs are adequately engaged in treating older patients. The adoption of a social marketing framework was instrumental in enhancing the acceptance and effectiveness of this intervention.
authors: 1Roberta Williams Chair of General Practice,Graduate School of Medicine,University of Wollongong,Wollongong,NSW,Australia.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Bonney
authors: 2Research Fellow,Centre for Health Initiatives,University of Wollongong,Wollongong,NSW,Australia.
authors: Lyn
authors: L
authors: Phillipson
authors: 3Director,Centre for Health and Social Research,The Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research,Australian Catholic University,Melbourne,Victoria,Australia.
authors: Sandra C
authors: SC
authors: Jones
authors: 4Project Manager,Centre for Health Initiatives,University of Wollongong,Wollongong,NSW,Australia.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Hall
authors: 5Adjunct Associate Professor,ANU Medical School,The Australian National University,Canberra,ACT,Australia.
authors: Rashmi
authors: R
authors: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: general practice; older patients; registrar training; social marketing