The development of a collective quality system: challenges and lessons learned; a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Quality Assurance Systems
• General Practice Training

Background:

• Continuous improvement of quality systems (QSs) is essential in the professionalizing field of medical education.
• This paper details the development of a collective QS for eight Dutch General Practitioner (GP) specialty training institutes.
• The study offers insights into the considerations for developing robust QSs in medical education.

Discussion:

• Stakeholder engagement was pivotal in guiding the QS development process.
• The World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) framework offered valuable direction for comprehensive process coverage.
• Formulating quantifiable indicators presented a significant challenge, sparking considerable discussion among developers.

Key Insights:

• Collaborative development ensured stakeholder alignment on goals, domain relevance, and assessment methods.
• Quantifiable indicators were developed for benchmarking, though their detailed nature proved contentious.
• The suitability of highly detailed indicators for all medical education QSs was questioned.

Outlook:

• Future QS development should carefully balance the need for quantifiable indicators with practical applicability.
• Further research may explore alternative indicator frameworks for medical education quality assurance.
• Lessons learned can inform the design of future quality systems in postgraduate medical training.