Caring for kids: Australian general practice registrar confidence in delivering paediatric primary care

The burden of disease for Australian children from non-acute conditions is growing; however, little is known about how well prevocational training experiences prepare trainee doctors. This study examines the confidence of general practice registrars in managing paediatric consultations in primary care and whether confidence varies by prevocational training type.

This was a cross-sectional national survey of Australian general practice registrars that measured confidence in managing paediatric primary care presentations.

Respondents reported feeling confident (65%) or very confident (8%) in managing paediatrics in primary care, with higher confidence for those more advanced in their training or with greater exposure to paediatrics during prevocational training. Regression models showed registrars were more likely to report higher confidence when managing acute versus non-acute presentations.

Although most registrars reported confidence in managing paediatric presentations, confidence levels were notably lower for non-acute conditions and when prevocational training experiences included limited exposure to paediatric patients.