Future practice of comprehensive care: Practice intentions of exiting family medicine residents in Canada.

OBJECTIVE

To describe exiting family medicine (FM) residents' reported practice intentions after completing a Triple C Competency-based Curriculum.

DESIGN

The surveys were intended to capture residents' perceptions of FM, their perceptions of their competency-based training, and their intentions to practise FM. Entry (T1) and exit (T2) self-reported survey results were compared considering the influence of the curriculum change. Unmatched aggregate-level data were reviewed. The T1 survey was administered in the summer of 2012 and the T2 survey was administered in the spring of 2014.

SETTING

Six Canadian FM residency programs across 4 provinces in Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec).

PARTICIPANTS

Overall, 341 entering FM residents in 2012 responded to the T1 survey and 325 exiting FM residents completing their residency programs in spring 2014 responded to the T2 survey.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Self-reported data on FM residents' future practice intentions related to comprehensive care, providing care across clinical domains and settings, and providing comprehensive care individually or in teams.

RESULTS

A total of 341 (71.3%) residents responded to the T1 survey and a total of 325 (71.4%) residents responded to the T2 survey. Of these, 78.7% responded that they intended to provide comprehensive FM in multiple clinical settings in their future practices, with 70.8% indicating a comprehensive care practice with a special interest and 36.6% intending to provide care in a focused practice. Overall, 92.9% reported that they intended to work in group practice environments. Ninety percent reported they intended to work in interprofessional team practices.

CONCLUSION

While an upward trend toward the practice of comprehensive care was demonstrated, findings also showed an increased trend toward providing care in focused practices. Further research is needed to better determine how FM residents understand the definition of comprehensive FM and its practice models. The survey provides an opportunity to explore questions related to practice intentions that could be helpful in work force planning. As the first study to compare entry and exit data from learners who have been exposed to a Triple C competency-based approach, this survey provides important baseline data for use by many.