Experiences of GP trainees in undertaking telephone consultations: a mixed-methods study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Care
• Digital Health

Background:

• Telephone consultations are a growing part of primary care for triage and reviews.
• Little is known about general practice (GP) trainees' experiences and training in telephone consultations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate GP trainees' perceptions, experiences, and training needs for telephone consultations.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involving a cross-sectional electronic survey and semi-structured interviews with GP trainees in North Central and East London.
• Quantitative survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative interview data underwent thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Trainees reported lower confidence in complex telephone consultations, with training significantly correlating with confidence levels.
• Positive experiences included workload management and convenience; negative experiences involved communication barriers and lack of physical examination.
• Training for telephone consultations requires enhancement, with audio-clinical observation tools (COTs) proving beneficial.

Conclusions:

• GP trainee experiences highlight the need for improved training in telephone consultations.
• Findings will inform discussions on enhancing training for remote consultation skills for postgraduate learners.