The effectiveness of competency-based education in equipping primary health care workers to manage chronic disease in Australian general practice settings.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To review the literature on the effectiveness of competency-based education (CBE) as a means of equipping the Australian general practice workforce to deliver optimal chronic disease outcomes to articulate policy options for the Australian context.

METHODS:
Systematic review of the literature (1991-2005) using a narrative approach followed by analysis of the findings using the actors/context/ processes/content framework of Buse et al.

RESULTS:
Few high-quality studies were identified. National policy options include incorporating clear statements about education and training, research and evaluation in any policy document targeting chronic disease; and provision of funding to enhance general practice teaching facilities and/or facilitate the development of supportive coordinating and administrative structures for training practices. Designers of CBE should consider five key questions:
Are the educational objectives of the CBE clearly aligned with the chronic disease or workforce-related outcomes of interest? Is the design of the CBE sound? Have similar educational programs targeting the same outcomes been identified and every attempt made to maximise synergies between programs? Are the educational designers fully aware of and working within the existing complexity of the training environment? Are all involved in the program actively managing the process of change?

CONCLUSIONS:
Policy options range from those relatively simple and achievable to more complex and difficult. The full report is available at http://www.anu.edu.au/aphcri/Domain/Workforce/final_25_glasgow.pdf.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Glasgow, Nicholas J (NJ); Wells, Robert (R); Butler, James (J); Gear, Anna (A);

Affiliation: Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Nicholas.Glasgow@anu.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: The Medical journal of Australia (Med J Aust), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 188 (issue 8 Suppl) : pp S92-6

Dates: Created 2008/04/23; Completed 2008/06/27;

PMID: 18429747, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.