Family physicians enhance end-of-life care: evaluation of a new continuing medical education learning module in British Columbia.

Background: The Practice Support Program (PSP) is an innovative peer-to-peer continuing medical education (CME) program that offers full-service family physicians/general practitioners (GPs) in British Columbia (BC), Canada, post-graduate training on a variety of topics. We present the evaluation findings from the PSP learning module on enhancing end-of-life (EOL) care within primary care.

Methods: Pen-and-paper surveys were administered to participants three times: at the beginning of the first training session (n = 608; 69.

Mental health practice and attitudes of family physicians can be changed!

Objectives: An adult mental health module was developed in British Columbia to increase the use of evidence-based screening and cognitive behavioral self-management tools as well as medications that fit within busy family physician time constraints and payment systems. Aims were to enhance family physician skills, comfort, and confidence in diagnosing and treating mental health patients using the lens of depression; to improve patient experience and partnership; to increase use of action or care plans; and to increase mental health literacy and comfort of medical office assistants.

Methods: The British Columbia Practice Support Program delivered the module using the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for learning improvement.

Program evaluation of a child and youth mental health training program for family physicians in british columbia.

Introduction: This brief report presents findings from the program evaluation of a portion of an educational program developed to support family physicians in improving their mental health care competencies in children and youth in British Columbia.

Method: The Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) learning module is part of a broader initiative from the Practice Support Program (PSP) of the British Columbia Medical Association and was created specifically to assist family physicians in improving their competencies in the identification, diagnosis and delivery of best evidence-based treatments for children and youth exhibiting the most common mental disorders that can be effectively treated in most primary care practices.

Results: The initial results from the program evaluation demonstrate a substantial improvement in family physicians' knowledge of child and youth mental disorders and their self-rated clinical confidence in identifying and treating (both pharmacologically and psychotherapeutically) the most common child and youth mental disorders.

Improving primary care in British Columbia, Canada: evaluation of a peer-to-peer continuing education program for family physicians.

Background: An innovative program, the Practice Support Program (PSP), for full-service family physicians and their medical office assistants in primary care practices was recently introduced in British Columbia, Canada. The PSP was jointly approved by both government and physician groups, and is a dynamic, interactive, educational and supportive program that offers peer-to-peer training to physicians and their office staff. Topic areas range from clinical tools/skills to office management relevant to General Practitioner (GP) practices and "doable in real GP time".

Improving mental healthcare by primary care physicians in British Columbia.

This article describes a new and innovative training program to assist family physicians to better care for their patients with mental health conditions. Trained family physician leaders train other family physicians. The training package includes a wide range of tools that can be used by physicians in their own offices.