Development and feasibility of a patient feedback programme to improve consultation skills in general practice training.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an attractive and effective patient feedback training programme for general practice trainees (GPTs).

METHODS

First, an exploratory study was conducted in which patients and GPTs were interviewed after they had worked with patient feedback. This contributed to the development of the patient feedback training programme. Subsequently, in a feasibility study, first-year GPTs asked patients to give feedback on their consultation skills by completing a questionnaire. The outcomes of group discussions with the GPTs and the results of the evaluation forms filled in by the GPTs were analysed.

RESULTS

Forty-eight GPTs collected 878 questionnaires. GPTs and patients alike expected patient feedback to be a major tool for acquiring consultation skills. The GPTs encountered several obstacles in the organisation of this programme in their practice. They reported that the learning effects were more limited than they had expected because patients gave positively biased answers and because not all consultations provided an appropriate source of patient feedback.

CONCLUSION

The new patient feedback programme on consultation skills is feasible for patients and GPTs.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

To optimise the educational potential and benefits of patient feedback, GPTs should ask for feedback from patients after challenging consultations, and should stimulate patients to be critical in their answers.