Qualitative Evaluation of a Pilot Physician Training Program in Long-Term Care Facilities in Switzerland

Increasing demand for long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and increasingly complex medical needs of LTCF residents necessitate recruiting new physician graduates and developing programs which provide them with experience and specific skills in geriatric and palliative medicine. We developed an educational program for physicians in training, which combines 1 year of immersion at 20% full-time equivalent with (1) theoretical teaching, (2) clinical exposure under the supervision of a senior LTCF physician, and (3) structured case presentations and debriefing with experienced geriatricians. This article presents a preliminary qualitative evaluation of this program from the perspectives of the trainees, supervising physicians, and public health stakeholders. The program was well accepted by all parties and showed positive effects on trainees' interest in long-term care medicine. Suggestions for improving future programs and their implementation are provided.