A new selection system to recruit general practice registrars: preliminary findings from a validation study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Human Resources in Healthcare
• General Practice Training

Background:

• Traditional recruitment methods for general practice registrars may lack predictive validity.
• There is a need for a more robust selection system to ensure high-quality candidates.
• Competency-based selection is a recognized approach to improve recruitment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and validate a novel competency-based selection system for general practice registrars.
• The system integrates a competency-based application form, referee reports, and an assessment centre.
• To compare the effectiveness of the new system against traditional recruitment techniques.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal predictive validity study was conducted.
• A matched case comparison design was employed.
• The study involved 46 doctors in training and 20 general practice trainers across three UK deaneries.

Main Results:

• Assessment centre competency ratings accurately predicted on-the-job performance.
• Trainees recruited via the new competency-based system showed significantly better job performance.
• The competency-based selection process proved more effective than traditional methods.

Conclusions:

• The developed competency-based selection process, incorporating assessment centres, enhances the validity of general practice registrar recruitment.
• This system offers a more reliable method for selecting registrars compared to existing traditional techniques.
• Implementing competency-based selection is recommended for improving the quality of general practice workforce.