title: In-consultation information and advice-seeking by Australian GP trainees from GP trainers - a cross-sectional analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The apprenticeship model of general practice (GP) training is based on appropriate supervision. A central component of supervision - in-consultation information-seeking of GP trainees from their trainer - has not been documented. We aimed to establish the prevalence, characteristics and associations (trainee, practice, patient and consultation) of this information-seeking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Australian trainees recorded demographic, clinical and educational details of 60 consecutive consultations in each GP term of their training, including the rate and nature of information-seeking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six-hundred and forty-five trainees contributed data for 1426 trainee-rounds, 84 723 consultations and 131 583 problems. Information was sought from the trainer for 9130 (6.9% (95% CI 6.8-7.1)) of all problems encountered (and in 7833 (9.2% (95% CI 9.0-9.4)) of consultations): 11.7% (95% CI 11.0- 12.4) were for diagnosis, 53.1% (95% CI 52.1-54.2) for management and 35.2% (95% CI 34.2-36.2) for both diagnosis and management. Assistance was sought most commonly for skin problems (20.0%) and musculoskeletal problems (12.6%). Significant adjusted associations of information-seeking included patient age; male patient gender; earlier training term; trainee being younger and female; trainee's training organisation; longer consultation; and trainee generation of learning goals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings have implications for trainer workload and professional development, patient care and trainee education and training.
authors.affiliation: General Practitioner and Medical Educator, General Practice Training Valley to Coast, PO Box 573, HRMC, NSW 2310, Australia. simon.morgan@gptvtc.com.au.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer in Clinical Educator Development, Flinders University, Supervisor Research & Development, Australian National University Medical School and General Practice Education and Training (GPET), Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wearne
authors.affiliation: Research Officer, General Practice Training Valley to Coast, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tapley
authors.affiliation: Research Manager, General Practice Training Valley to Coast, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Senior Statistician, Clinical Research Design IT and Statistical Support Unit (CReDITSS), Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oldmeadow
authors.affiliation: Statistician, Clinical Research Design IT and Statistical Support Unit (CReDITSS), Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: General Practitioner and Professor of General Practice, Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Driel
authors.affiliation: IT Officer, General Practice Training Valley to Coast, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: General Practitioner and Director of Medical Education and Training, Victorian Metropolitan Alliance General Practice Training, Victoria, Australia and Professor, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spike
authors.affiliation: General Practitioner and Medical Director, Adelaide to Outback General Practice Training, North Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Lawrie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McArthur
authors.affiliation: General Practitioner and Medical Educator, General Practice Training Valley to Coast and Conjoint Professor, University of Newcastle, Discipline of General Practice, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Parker
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magin
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D012017:Referral and Consultation