Pandemic impacts on rural general practice: Trainees and supervision team working and learning together

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• General Practice Training
• COVID-19 Impact

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented disruptions to healthcare systems globally.
• General practice training relies heavily on in-person supervision and team-based learning environments.
• Understanding the pandemic's effect on trainee learning is crucial for maintaining workforce development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic disruptions on general practice trainees' interdependent learning.
• To explore these impacts from the dual perspectives of trainees and the broader practice team.
• To identify adaptations and sustained elements of training during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study conducted in four rural general practices in Queensland.
• Semi-structured interviews with 23 general practice team members (GPs, nurses, receptionists, registrars, junior doctors, medical students).
• Thematic analysis informed by the theory of interdependent learning and COREQ guidelines.

Main Results:

• Physical distancing and infection control measures significantly transformed learning opportunities.
• Telehealth consultations and remote working altered the interdependent relationships between the work environment, supervision team, and trainees.
• New working models emerged, affecting practice team roles and supervisory dynamics.

Conclusions:

• General practices developed innovative strategies to maintain patient care and trainee learning during the pandemic.
• Changes in team roles and supervision were key to sustaining training.
• The importance of social connectedness for trainees was highlighted, necessitating further evaluation for future training models.