The reading habits of RACGP Training Program doctors

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• General Practice
• Information Literacy

Background:

• Understanding the reading habits of general practice trainees is crucial for effective medical education.
• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Training Program aims to equip doctors with comprehensive knowledge.
• Assessing current reading practices informs curriculum development and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the reading habits of Western Australian doctors in the RACGP Training Program during their general practice terms in 1992.
• To identify preferred reading materials and time allocation for medical literature among trainees.
• To evaluate the extent to which trainees engage with core philosophical and foundational texts in general practice.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was administered to a cohort of RACGP trainees in Western Australia.
• The survey included a list of relevant general practice journals and books.
• Data collected encompassed demographic information, journal reading frequency, and the number of books read.

Main Results:

• Sixty-eight out of 100 trainees responded.
• Average weekly medical reading time was 3.3 hours (range: 1-12 hours).
• Trainees read an average of 3-16 journal titles in six months and 0-17 books from a list of 39, with reference books being most popular; core philosophical texts were rarely read.

Conclusions:

• RACGP trainees predominantly engage with medical literature for informational purposes.
• The RACGP Training Program needs to enhance exposure to the philosophical underpinnings and key thinkers in general practice and family medicine.
• This emphasis is vital for cultivating well-rounded, knowledgeable general practitioners.