Perceived stakeholder benefits of continuously training general practitioners in the same rural or remote practice: interviews exploring the Remote Vocational Training Scheme

Abstract

Objective: Explore stakeholder perspectives of the benefits of continuously training general practitioners in the same rural or remote practice in distributed locations via the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS). Design, setting, participants: Online one-hour semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 RVTS staff, participants and supervisors from all states and territories between 16 October and 24 November 2023. Data were deductively and inductively coded by stakeholder type and the range of benefits, and the findings were informed by insights from a project reference group and a stakeholder advisory group. Questions explored the benefits of the RVTS — a program which supports doctors already working in rural, remote and First Nations communities to train towards general practice or rural generalist fellowship while remaining in the same practice. Main outcomes measures: Perspectives on the nature and spread of benefits. Results: Broad benefits were perceived to flow to four system-level stakeholders: communities, health services, participants and policy makers. Perceived participant and community benefits were doctors staying longer in distributed locations with tailored place-based supports and training, doctors building relationships with patients, and doctors learning through longitudinal care. Health service benefits included reduced reliance on locums, improved continuity of accessible and appropriate services in areas otherwise facing major recruitment and retention issues, and the doctors having more time to contribute to improving service quality and upskilling local staff. Policy-maker benefits were sustaining safe and high quality services for distributed populations with high needs. Conclusion: The RVTS model was perceived to offer diverse benefits for different system stakeholders which could improve quality of learning, service delivery and community care. It also aligned with key policy directions for a distributed and sustainable generalist workforce under the goals of the National Medical Workforce Strategy 2021–2031 and the directions set by the independent review of overseas health practitioner regulatory settings led by Robyn Kruk. However, models like the RVTS largely rely on distribution levers to recruit more doctors to the locations it supports. © 2024 The Author(s). Medical Journal of Australia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of AMPCo Pty Ltd.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Not provided

Index Keywords

learning training female human male Humans Article interview Vocational education Australia education general practice general practitioner General Practitioners Interviews as Topic physician health practitioner health service normal human organization and management semi structured interview workforce stakeholder participation community care rural health care Rural Health Services First Nation health care delivery

Author Affiliations

School of Rural Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Rural Clinical School, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, School of Rural Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Remote Vocational Training Scheme, Albury, NSW, Australia, University of New South Wales, Rural Clinical School, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia

Funding & Acknowledgements

Australian National University, ANU

The Remote Vocational Training Scheme is supported by funding from the Australian Government. Executive and senior leaders at the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, General Practice Supervision Australia, General Practice Registrars Australia and NSW Rural Doctors Network, and individuals, including Jennifer May (University of Newcastle) and Susan Wearne (Australian National University), contributed insights through a stakeholder advisory group. Others, including Ronda Gurney, Clara Smith, Tony Trevaskis, Marlene Drysdale and Veeraja Uppal from the RVTS and Tiana Gurney from the University of Queensland, contributed to data collection and interpretation of the findings.

Australian Government

The Remote Vocational Training Scheme is supported by funding from the Australian Government. Executive and senior leaders at the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, General Practice Supervision Australia, General Practice Registrars Australia and NSW Rural Doctors Network, and individuals, including Jennifer May (University of Newcastle) and Susan Wearne (Australian National University), contributed insights through a stakeholder advisory group. Others, including Ronda Gurney, Clara Smith, Tony Trevaskis, Marlene Drysdale and Veeraja Uppal from the RVTS and Tiana Gurney from the University of Queensland, contributed to data collection and interpretation of the findings.

University of Newcastle Australia, UON

The Remote Vocational Training Scheme is supported by funding from the Australian Government. Executive and senior leaders at the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, General Practice Supervision Australia, General Practice Registrars Australia and NSW Rural Doctors Network, and individuals, including Jennifer May (University of Newcastle) and Susan Wearne (Australian National University), contributed insights through a stakeholder advisory group. Others, including Ronda Gurney, Clara Smith, Tony Trevaskis, Marlene Drysdale and Veeraja Uppal from the RVTS and Tiana Gurney from the University of Queensland, contributed to data collection and interpretation of the findings.

NSW Rural Doctors Network, RDN

The Remote Vocational Training Scheme is supported by funding from the Australian Government. Executive and senior leaders at the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, General Practice Supervision Australia, General Practice Registrars Australia and NSW Rural Doctors Network, and individuals, including Jennifer May (University of Newcastle) and Susan Wearne (Australian National University), contributed insights through a stakeholder advisory group. Others, including Ronda Gurney, Clara Smith, Tony Trevaskis, Marlene Drysdale and Veeraja Uppal from the RVTS and Tiana Gurney from the University of Queensland, contributed to data collection and interpretation of the findings.

University of Queensland, UQ

The Remote Vocational Training Scheme is supported by funding from the Australian Government. Executive and senior leaders at the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, General Practice Supervision Australia, General Practice Registrars Australia and NSW Rural Doctors Network, and individuals, including Jennifer May (University of Newcastle) and Susan Wearne (Australian National University), contributed insights through a stakeholder advisory group. Others, including Ronda Gurney, Clara Smith, Tony Trevaskis, Marlene Drysdale and Veeraja Uppal from the RVTS and Tiana Gurney from the University of Queensland, contributed to data collection and interpretation of the findings.

References 10 References

1 Universal Health Coverage Uhc, (2023)

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Perceived stakeholder benefits of continuously training general practitioners in the same rural or remote practice: interviews exploring the Remote Vocational Training Scheme

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