Abstract
Objective
To examine the increase in self-perceived clinical competence during a three-year postgraduate training in general practice and to explore the relation between the growth of self-perceived competence and several background variables.
Design
Cohort, 1995–1998.
Setting
Three-year Postgraduate Training for General practice in the Netherlands
Participants
All Dutch trainees who followed postgraduate training from September 1995 to September 1998 (N=191).
Intervention
We asked the trainees at the start and at the end of their postgraduate training to complete a questionnaire, which assessed their self-perceived knowledge, clinical skills and consultations skills.
We collected information about potentially influencing background variables. Amongst these were variables such as: age, gender, prior medical experience, the effort someone has spent upon her/his education, insight in weak and strong areas of clinical competence and knowledge and skills levels.
Main outcome measure
Self-perceived competence.
Results
A total of 127 trainees completed both questionnaires (190 at the first administration and 128 at the second one).
We found statistically significant growth of self-perceived clinical competence. Self-perceived consultation skills increased more than self-perceived knowledge and clinical skills. The afore mentioned background variables did not relate in any way with the growth of self-perceived clinical competence.
Conclusion
This study shows that a 3-year postgraduate training in general practice enhances self-perceived clinical competence. However, we still do not know how to explain this improvement. Further study into the theoretical concept of self-assessment in medical education and into the factors contributing to the feeling of being competent, is required.
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Acknowledgements
We like to thank all trainees who took part in the study. We are grateful for the support from the staff of the eight Dutch training institutes for postgraduate training in general practice. We thank the members of the national committees of the knowledge tests for their contribution in the development of the tests. Herman Düsman contributed in the design of the study, the administration and the analysis. IJsbrand Kramer improved the English. This study was initiated by the Registration Committee for Postgraduate Training in General Practice (HVRC). It was financially supported by the Foundation of Postgraduate Training in General Practice (SBOH), that had no involvement in the study at all. And it was executed by the National Centre for Evaluation of Postgraduate Training in General Practice (SVUH).
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Kramer, A., Zuithoff, P., Jansen, J. et al. Growth of Self-Perceived Clinical Competence in Postgraduate Training for General Practice and its Relation to Potentially Influencing Factors. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract 12, 135–145 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-006-9001-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-006-9001-y
Keywords
- contribution of an educational program to the feeling of being competent
- factors contributing to the feeling of being competent
- growth of self-perceived clinical competence
- lifelong learning
- postgraduate training in general practice
- self-assessment of clinical competence
- self-perceived clinical competence
- theoretical concept of self-assessment