Competency lists for urban general practitioners/family physicians using the modified Delphi method

In recent years, the growing global urbanization and urban population have resulted in the emergence of various health problems unique to urban areas. Therefore, training general practitioners and family physicians who can tackle the complex health problems of urban areas and improve the health of urban people is one of the most important issues of our time. However, findings on competencies for urban general practitioners (GP) and family physicians (FP) were limited. This study aimed to identify their comprehensive and content-validated list of competencies.

We used the modified Delphi method to develop a content-validated competency list. First, we analyzed and synthesized the competencies extracted from the literature review using qualitative thematic analysis methods to create an initial competency list of 34 items. We then assembled 39 expert panelists in four groups of study participants: physicians, nurses, patients, and medical education specialists. The expert panelists were asked to indicate their level of agreement with the lists and provide revised comments on the description of each competency via a web-based questionnaire. Their responses were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by the research team and used to revise the list. These processes were repeated, and the survey was completed when it was determined that consensus had been reached.

Three rounds of Delphi were conducted. 39 responded in the first round, 38 in the second round, and 36 in the third round. The initial list of competencies was revised and consolidated from 34 to 14 items in the first round, bringing the total to 20 items along with six new items proposed by the panelists. In the second round, it was revised and consolidated into a list of 18 items. In the third round, all 18 items were considered to have been agreed upon by the panelists, so the survey was closed.

We identified a comprehensive 18-item list of competencies for urban GP/FP in a content-validated manner. Several are newly discovered competencies in this study. The findings of this study will be useful for the future training of urban GP/FP and for solving urban health problems.