title: General practitioners as educators in adolescent health: a training evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General practitioners play an important role in the primary care of adolescents in both community and clinical settings. Yet studies show that GPs can lack confidence, skills and knowledge in adolescent health. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an innovative training intervention on medical participants' knowledge and confidence as adolescent health educators in a school setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  15 general practitioners, 12 general practice registrars and 18 medical students participated in an adolescent health education workshop followed by field experience in health education sessions in secondary schools. The mixed method design included a pre and post intervention survey and focus group interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean scores on the Confidence to Teach scale increased significantly (3.34 ± 0.51 to 4.09 ± 0.33) (p < .001) as did confidence to communicate with adolescents (3.64 ± 0.48 to 4.19 ± 0.33) (p < .001). Mean knowledge scores increased significantly (7.00 ± 1.22 to 8.98 ± 1.11) (p < .001). Participants highlighted the value of learning about adolescent health issues and generic teaching skills especially lesson planning and design, practicing experiential teaching strategies and finding the 'sweet spot' when communicating with adolescents. Some participants reported that these skills would transfer to the practice setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An applied training intervention that uses evidence-based, experiential teaching strategies and focuses on developing knowledge and practical teaching skills appropriate for the health education of adolescents can enhance knowledge and confidence to engage in community-based adolescent health education.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD, 4215, Australia.
authors.forename: Thea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van de Mortel
authors.affiliation: Birdtalk, 39 Leslie Street, Bangalow, 2479, NSW, Australia. jenny@birdtalk.net.au.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.affiliation: Bangalow Professional Centre, Suite 4, Lot 1 Ballina Road, Bangalow, NSW, 2479, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chown
authors.affiliation: North Coast GP Training, PO Box 4978, Ballina, NSW, 2478, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trigger
authors.affiliation: North Coast GP Training, PO Box 4978, Ballina, NSW, 2478, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ahern
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067697:Adolescent Health; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D010819:Physician's Role; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D057566:Self Report
keywords: Adolescents; Community health education; Evaluation; General practitioners; Medical education; Training