Effect of extension of postgraduate training in general practice on the acquisition of knowledge of trainees.

Background: Postgraduate training in general practice aims to develop clinical competence. However, little is known about its effect on trainees' development of competence.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate whether 3 years of postgraduate training in general practice leads to a higher level of knowledge than 2 years training while maintaining the same structure and educational objectives.

What influences the quality of educational encounters between trainer and trainee in vocational training for general practice?

This study of educational encounters between a trainer and a trainee in vocational training for general practice investigates the quality of the encounter. The study focuses on the relation between the quality of the encounter and elements such as presence of feedback, duration, use of media, etc. A quality measure based on the Gagné and Briggs model for the design of instructional events was developed.