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Medical emergencies in rural North Queensland: Doctors perceptions of the training needs
Author(s) -
Pandit Tarsh,
Sabesan Sabe,
Ray Robin A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
australian journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.48
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1440-1584
pISSN - 1038-5282
DOI - 10.1111/ajr.12433
Subject(s) - preparedness , medicine , nursing , context (archaeology) , referral , rural area , training (meteorology) , qualitative research , rural health , work (physics) , needs assessment , medical education , family medicine , mechanical engineering , social science , pathology , sociology , meteorology , political science , law , engineering , paleontology , physics , biology
Abstract Objective This study aimed to explore doctors’ perceptions of the training needs of rural doctors in the context of managing emergencies in rural North Queensland. Design Using a qualitative approach, 20 semistructured interviews were conducted via telephone, video conference and in‐person. Using an interview guide, areas such as preparedness of junior doctors for rural practice, areas for further training and confidence with managing emergencies were discussed. Interviews were analysed using the principles of grounded theory. Participant recruitment continued until data saturation was achieved. Setting Multiple health facilities across three hospital and health services in North Queensland. Participants (i) Doctors with current or recent work in rural North Queensland; (ii) doctors involved with rural medical training; and (iii) emergency medicine specialists working in a tertiary referral centre. Main outcome measure Perspectives of doctors on the training needs of rural doctors in North Queensland. Results Rural doctors were found to be as prepared as they could be to take up rural practice; however, they still had training needs. Region‐specific emergencies, access to regular in‐house simulations and non‐medical challenges, including understanding local team dynamics and taking on a team leader role, were seen as key training needs. Senior doctors indicated that further formal and informal on‐the‐job training were required for provisional fellows with limited experience in the emergency department. Conclusion Certain training needs of rural doctors still remain unmet. Further access to in‐house simulations and tele‐training could be useful strategies to meet these training needs to further support rural doctors.