Training doctors to manage patients with multimorbidity: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Practice
• Public Health

Background:

• Multimorbidity, defined as two or more chronic conditions, is prevalent in clinical practice.
• Managing patients with multimorbidity presents significant challenges to the healthcare system.
• Specialized skills are required for physicians to effectively manage complex, multiple chronic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on education and training formats for postgraduate medical doctors in managing multimorbidity.
• To identify training methods shown to improve physician knowledge, skills, attitudes, or patient outcomes in multimorbidity care.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted, screening 75,110 citations.
• Sixty-five full-text articles were assessed for eligibility.
• Two studies met the inclusion criteria for the review.

Main Results:

• The two included studies focused on multimorbidity workshops.
• These workshops were implemented and evaluated.
• The studies underscored the necessity for further research into doctors' learning needs for multimorbidity management.

Conclusions:

• There is a notable lack of published research on the education of doctors in managing multimorbidity, despite extensive literature on the challenges.
• Further investigation is required to establish the need for and benefits of specific training programs for physicians in this area.