Clinical teaching: widening the definition

In all medical specialities, trainees are increasingly encouraged to develop teaching skills alongside their clinical professional development. However, there have been few empirical UK-based studies that have examined trainees' attitudes and understanding of their own engagement with educational activities. This study therefore aimed to explore this in the context of general practitioner (GP) training using a qualitative approach.

Twenty GP registrars from the North Western Deanery were recruited to four focus groups. The data obtained using a semi-structured topic guide were analysed for thematic content, and the rigour of this methodology was increased by peer checking of the coding. Participation was voluntary and ethical approval was obtained.

The majority of registrars interviewed initially presumed that teaching role development was only in relation to educating those junior to them, and thus followed a vertical hierarchical structure; however, during focus group discussions, the registrars started to recognise a range of other teaching modalities that they had not previously noted. These included peer-to-peer teaching sessions, examination preparation groups and, indeed, the everyday education of patients during consultations.

Although this study has been conducted in the context of GP training, it is plausible to suggest that skewed perceptions from trainees as to what constitutes teaching may indeed exist in other speciality training schemes. There is therefore a need to shift current thinking around teaching engagement away from the traditional senior-junior relationship, and instead widen the definition of what it means to be involved in teaching activities.