Evaluation of effect on skills of GP trainees taking time out of programme (OOP) in developing countries

The London School of General Practice Time Out of Programme (OOP) provides general practice (GP) trainees with an opportunity to enhance clinical experience and develop a range of skills and competencies, which are often not achievable in a three-year training programme, that are relevant and transferable to their practice in the UK. The programme offers one-year posts in the developing world to trainees between years ST2/3.

This study builds on the work of the International Health Links Centre and London Deanery report (2011) and is designed to assess the skills and competencies of GP trainees on an OOP scheme.

The study evaluated the impact of the OOP scheme on: • GP trainees? clinical skills • GP trainees' decision-making, management and leadership skills • Any other competencies.

London GP trainees and trainers.

Data were gathered using structured interview schedules developed for GP trainees and GP trainers and mapped against the RCGP Trainee e-portfolio Competence Areas.

Our findings show that trainees and trainers reported an increase in skill levels in the more generic competencies.

The study shows that the OOP scheme provides GP trainees with an excellent opportunity to develop clinical skills and more generic skills such as leadership, management and decision-making, as well as effective use of resources. However, not all clinical skill improvements were directly transferable to trainees' clinical work on return to the UK.