General practitioner training in palliative care: an experiential approach

With the rising incidence of cancer and with more terminally ill patients wishing to be cared for at home, it is clear that there is a growing need for general practitioners (GPs) who are skilled in providing palliative care. In an attempt to improve the palliative care knowledge and skills of GPs in Western Australia and the quality of care they provide, a 14-week training program was developed by the Silver Chain Nursing Association and the Perth South Eastern Division of General Practice. The program used experiential learning techniques, such as a clinical attachment and mentoring. Research has shown that performance-based rather than cognitive education methods have a greater impact on practice outcomes. The program was evaluated by an external body and found to have achieved its objectives. The results of the evaluation are discussed, together with their implications for postgraduate education.