Satisfaction and Perceived Barriers of General Practice Residents in Relation to Their Educational Needs Coverage During Residency in Greece

• Published in: Mædica 2020-12, Vol.15 (4), p.445-453
• Main Authors: Symvoulakis, Emmanouil K, Tsapas, Apostolos, Smyrnakis, Emmanouil, Tatsioni, Athina, Drosos, Evangelos, Thireos, Eleftherios, Doumas, Michail, Galanis, Spyridon, Perdikaki, Pigi, Symeonidis, Athanasios, Papanikolaou, Nikolaos, Karageorgiou, Ioannis, Kokkinakis, Stamatios, Maliotis, Neofytos, Benos, Alexis, Lionis, Christos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original Paper
• ISSN: 1841-9038; 2069-6116
• DOI: 10.26574/maedica.2020.15.4.445

This study aimed to assess satisfaction and report on perceptions of General Practice (GP) residents during residency in Greece, through an online questionnaire at a national level. A mixed type method study was shaped. Both quantitative analysis and a quasiqualitative approach were used, while information from an open-ended question was processed. The study included answers of GP residents recruited with a national sample pool technique. There were 177 responders from 430 registered residents. Using a grading system from 1 to 10, the median value showing how much satisfied the participants were during their training was 4.48 (95% CI 4.16-4.79), while GP logbook was regarded as useful (median value 6.29, 95% CI 5.84-6.73). The training program was reported as insufficient to prepare residents for their future work as primary health care physicians, with a median rating of 4.09 (95% CI 3.78-4.41). The overall educational gain was regarded as poor compared to residents' expectations, with a median rating of 4.71 (95% CI 4.38-5.07). From free text responses of 83 participants, an organized educational program based on logbook skill acquirement with interaction between coordinator and resident emerged as a priority. Understanding general practitioners' perceptions, satisfaction level and expectations may help to design reform initiatives and cover their educational needs during residency in a holistic manner. Experience from local settings may be useful to offer more comprehensive messages. In a rapidly changing health environment, quickly collecting and analyzing emerging data appears to be a practical way for correcting decisions and avoiding previous errors.