An analysis of the trainee year in general practice

Area of Science:

• General Practice and Primary Care
• Medical Education
• Health Services Research

Background:

• General practice trainees manage a diverse patient population.
• Understanding the composition of trainee workload is crucial for effective training.
• Previous studies have not fully detailed the demographic and clinical focus of trainee consultations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the workload of general practice trainees.
• To identify patient demographics and common consultation types.
• To explore patient preferences regarding trainee gender.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective survey of 12,425 trainee consultations.
• Data collection on patient age, illness type, and consultation focus.
• Analysis of patient gender and trainee gender preference.

Main Results:

• Chronic illness comprised only 19.4% of the workload.
• The 20-30 age group accounted for the highest number of consultations.
• Anticipatory care and health education were minimal (0.3% and 1.1%).
• Women patients were twice as likely to consult female trainees.

Conclusions:

• General practice trainee workload is predominantly acute, not chronic.
• Training programs should consider the high prevalence of younger adult patients.
• Addressing patient gender preference is important for improving patient-doctor relationships and training effectiveness.