A Virtual Community of Practice for General Practice Training: A Preimplementation Survey.

Area of Science:

• Health Workforce Research
• Rural Health
• General Practice Training

Background:

• Professional isolation significantly impacts rural health workforce retention.
• Developing strategies to support rural healthcare professionals is crucial for maintaining service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To inform the implementation plan for a virtual community of practice (VCoP) for general practice (GP) training in regional Australia.
• To assess the applicability of an existing VCoP framework and identify key usage drivers and user priorities.

Main Methods:

• A survey study utilizing a seven-step health VCoP framework with 133 general practice supervisors and registrars.
• Statistical analysis including t tests, chi-square tests, factor analysis, and regression modeling to identify predictors of VCoP use.

Main Results:

• Facilitation, sponsorship from GP training providers, and perceived usefulness were critical for VCoP establishment.
• Registrars showed higher intention to use and perceived greater usefulness compared to supervisors.
• High-quality content and addressing specific knowledge needs were paramount; registrars desired allied health and specialist involvement.

Conclusions:

• A successful GP training VCoP requires effective facilitation, focus on knowledge sharing, and high-quality content to combat professional isolation.
• While online training is feasible, face-to-face interaction is vital for building trust.
• The perceived usefulness of the VCoP is the primary driver of success, with significant implications for rural GP training and retention.