A Framework to Guide the Implementation of Best Practice Clinical Learning Environments in Community General Practice: Australia

• Main Authors: Belinda O'Sullivan, Helen Hickson, Rebecca Kippen, Donna Cohen, Phil Cohen, Glen Wallace
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: doctors; general practitioners; physicians; health workers; workforce; learn
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/1482
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

Clinical education/training is increasingly being expanded to community general practice settings (primary care clinics led by doctors). This plays an important role in developing a skilled “primary-care ready” workforce. However, there is limited information to guide the implementation of high-quality learning environments suitable for the range of general practices and clinical learners they oversee. We aimed to develop a consensus-based framework to address this. A co-design participatory action research method involved working with stakeholders to agree a project plan, collect and interpret data and endorse a final framework. As a starting point, an initial draft framework was adapted from an existing framework, the Best Practice Clinical Learning Environment (BPCLE) Framework. We gathered feedback about this from a national GP Supervisor Liaison Officer Network (SLON) (experienced GP clinical supervisors) during a 90-minute face-to-face focus group. They rated their agreement with the relevance of objectives and elements, advising on clear terminology and rationale for including/excluding various components. The resulting framework was refined and re-tested with the SLON and wider GP educational stakeholders until a final graphically designed version was endorsed. The resulting “GP Clinical Learning Environment” (GPCLE) Framework is applicable for planning and benchmarking best practice learning environments in general practice.