A novel general practice registrar to supervisor feedback system for distance education in rural areas.

Background: Quality supervision in general practice (GP) is critical for the progress and satisfaction of GP registrars and for attracting future rural GPs. However, there is limited research to inform the implementation of feedback systems for enhancing supervision by rural supervisors, and no published evidence specific to distance education where a remote supervisor may be in a different practice and supervising from afar. This study aimed to develop and explore the outcomes of an easy-to-administer, safe and constructive, registrar-to-supervisor feedback system for a distance (or remote) supervision model.

Continuity of service and longer term retention of doctors training as general practitioners in the Remote Vocational Training Scheme.

Objective: To explore continuity of service and longer term retention outcomes of participants of the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).

Design, Setting, Participants: Retrospective cohort study of all doctors who participated in the RVTS from 2000 to 2023, many of whom are international medical graduates and are expected to work in the same community for three to four years in remote (Modified Monash Model [MMM] categories 4-7) or rural Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) streams while undertaking training towards general practice fellowship.

Main Outcome Measures: Continuity of service was measured in the pre-program period (period working in same practice before commencing) and during-program period (period completing the RVTS program in same practice as worked in before commencing the program).

Recruitment and retention of new doctors in remote and Aboriginal medical services through the Remote Vocational Training Scheme's Targeted Recruitment Strategy: a focus group study.

Objective: To explore the results of a targeted recruitment strategy designed to attract and retain new doctors in remote and Aboriginal medical services where they can access Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) training and support to qualify as general practitioners.

Study Design: Two 2-hour purposeful online focus groups on the RVTS' Targeted Recruitment Strategy.

Setting And Participants: Five participants and nine stakeholders with knowledge and experience of the strategy.

Holistic support framework for doctors training as rural and remote general practitioners: a realist evaluation of the RVTS model.

Objective: To develop theory about how and why the supervision and support model used by the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) addresses the professional and non-professional needs of doctors (including many international medical graduates) who are training towards general practice or rural generalist fellowship while based in the same rural or remote practice.

Design, Setting, Participants: We conducted a realist evaluation based on the RAMESES II protocol. The initial theory was based on situated learning theory, networked ecological systems theory, cultural theory and geographical narcissism theory.

Perceived stakeholder benefits of continuously training general practitioners in the same rural or remote practice: interviews exploring the Remote Vocational Training Scheme.

Objective: Explore stakeholder perspectives of the benefits of continuously training general practitioners in the same rural or remote practice in distributed locations via the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).

Design, Setting, Participants: Online one-hour semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 RVTS staff, participants and supervisors from all states and territories between 16 October and 24 November 2023. Data were deductively and inductively coded by stakeholder type and the range of benefits, and the findings were informed by insights from a project reference group and a stakeholder advisory group.

Regionalisation of general practice training--are we meeting the needs of rural Australia?

The concept of "social accountability" has underpinned the development of many medical education programs over the past decade. Success of the regionalisation of the general practice training program in Australia will ultimately be measured by the ability of the program to deliver a sufficient rural general practice workforce to meet the health needs of rural communities. Regionalisation of general practice training in Australia arose from the 1998 recommendations of the Ministerial Review of General Practice Training.

Where are they now? The career paths of the Remote Vocational Training Scheme registrars.

Background: The Remote Vocational Training Scheme trains doctors in remote communities using distance education and supervision.

Aims: To document the training location, outcomes of training, current location and services provided by program graduates and assess the effectiveness of their training.

Results: Twenty-four doctors graduated from the Remote Vocational Training Scheme program.

Defining remote medical practice. A consensus viewpoint of medical practitioners working and teaching in remote practice.

More than three-quarters of Australia is classified as geographically remote. Remote areas are characterised by geographic isolation, cultural diversity, socioeconomic inequality, resource inequity, Indigenous health inequality, and a full range of extreme climatic conditions. Although several descriptive definitions have been developed for "remote health" and "remote practice", definitions of "remote medical practice" or "remote medicine" have not been previously published.