ABSTRACT
The participation of primary care physicians is essential for the success of ambulatory-care teaching. The “PEP2 Workbook” was developed by the Preceptor Education Project of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and provides clinicians with a variety of efficient and effective strategies for ambulatory-care teaching. Strategies include preparation for office visits by students, activities on the first day, one-minute preceptor teaching skills, observation of the student, providing feedback, and dealing with problems. Primary care physicians can apply these strategies readily in clinical practice to improve office-based teaching.
ABSTRACT
Although postgraduate training in an ambulatory care setting is recognized as beneficial in Japan, such training has not been widely implemented. In April 2001 we surveyed all 389 accredited teaching hospitals in Japan about their ambulatory care training. We asked 1) whether they provide a postgraduate training program in ambulatory care, particularly for problems commonly encountered in primary care settings, 2) if such a program was provided, how it was organized, and 3) if such a program was not provided, what the reasons were. One hundred eighty physicians responsible for the residency programs of 120 hospitals replied (response rate, 87%). Most residents at these hospitals see patients in outpatient clinics regularly during their training. Many faculty members supervise their residents at the outpatient clinic and also see their own patients. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents did not set teaching objectives for ambulatory care training. Frequently mentioned barriers to providing ambulatory care training were limited space and tight outpatient schedules. To promote postgraduate ambulatory care training in accredited teaching hospitals, adequate resource allocation and a national policy are needed.