Using Social Constructivist Learning Theory to Unpack General Practitioners' Learning Preferences of End-of-Life...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Palliative Care
• General Practice

Background:

• General practitioners (GPs) are central to community-based palliative care.
• Effective end-of-life care requires specialized skills for GPs.
• Current training may not fully meet GP learning needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify GP learning needs and preferences for end-of-life care training.
• To inform the development of more effective palliative care education for GPs.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive narrative review of electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane).
• Inclusion of 23 articles published between 1990 and 2021.
• Thematic analysis of selected literature.

Main Results:

• Learning is valued in end-of-life care and often starts with experience and reflection.
• Learning is context-dependent, influenced by clinical settings, autonomy, and social interaction.
• GPs prefer learning aligned with their specific needs and preferences.

Conclusions:

• Training programs must align with GP learning preferences to improve engagement.
• Tailored palliative care education can enhance GPs' end-of-life care capabilities.
• Effective training supports transformative learning experiences for GPs.