Developing a Competency List for General Practitioners/Family Physicians Providing Care for Dual-Location Residents:...

Dual-location living, in which individuals reside across two geographically distinct regions, is becoming increasingly prevalent in Japan. Consequently, general practitioners and family physicians (GPs/FPs) are more likely to encounter such patients, particularly in clinical settings located in resort areas and other non-metropolitan communities. Nevertheless, competency frameworks specifically tailored to the care of dual-location residents remain to be established.

A Delphi method was employed to develop a competency list for GPs/FPs involved in dual-location resident care. An expert panel of healthcare professionals with relevant clinical or educational experience in providing care for dual-location residents in Nagano Prefecture was invited to participate in the online Delphi rounds. In Round 1, the panelists responded to an open-ended questionnaire regarding competencies required for high-quality dual-location resident care. Responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to generate an initial competency list. In Round 2, the list was refined and confirmed by consensus.

A total of 36 participants completed Round 1, of whom 35 also completed Round 2. Through the Delphi process, a competency list comprising 10 items was developed. These competencies were organized into four domains, summarized using the acronym ROAM: Recognition of dual-location context, Orchestration of dual-location care, Alignment of care plan, and Multicultural professionalism.

This study developed a consensus-based competency framework for GPs/FPs involved in dual-location resident care. The ROAM model may serve as a helpful reference for clinical practice, medical education, and future research, while further studies are warranted to examine its applicability across different settings.