Russian family practice training program: a single step on a long journey

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Family Medicine
• International Health

Background:

• Russia officially recognized family practice as a medical specialty in 1992.
• Efforts to implement family practice patient care methods were initiated following this recognition.
• An educational initiative was designed to equip Russian physicians with essential family practice skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an educational program aimed at training Russian physicians in family practice.
• To assess the effectiveness of the training in improving physicians' knowledge and skills.
• To establish a functional family practice setting in Russia for patient care and ongoing training.

Main Methods:

• Five Russian physicians were selected based on standardized tests, English proficiency, and teaching potential.
• A comprehensive 6-month curriculum covered clinical, teaching, and business aspects of family practice.
• Trainee progress was evaluated through mentor assessments and the American Board of Family Practice In-training Examination.

Main Results:

• Trainees reported significant self-perceived knowledge gains across various family medicine domains.
• Composite scores on in-training examinations showed substantial improvement.
• Preceptors observed marked enhancements in clinical skills, information retrieval, and diagnostic abilities.

Conclusions:

• The training program successfully equipped Russian physicians with new skills and knowledge.
• Trained physicians are now capable of providing family practice care and training future professionals.
• The program facilitated the adaptation of family practice principles within the Russian healthcare system.