[Improving the supervision of physician-patient relations. Utilization of system's methodology]

To train residents adequately, major improvements in the supervision of the doctor-patient relationship were needed.

To improve supervision of residents' building and managing doctor-patient relationships.

Using a program based on systems thinking, the teachers at one Quebec university introduced major changes: a reduction in the number of doctors involved in supervision; a common conceptual framework enabling supervisors to more adequately observe, analyse, evaluate, and discuss the doctor-patient relationship; and peer supervision (metasupervision).

The key to acceptance of these changes was the approach used: consultation, team work, and the development of a new culture. Through this program, supervision of the doctor-patient relationship was improved.