Effectiveness evaluation of on-the-job training for general practitioners in rural community health service center in the outlying suburbs of Shanghai

Objective To explore the suitable standardized on-the-job training mode for general practitioners in rural community health service center in the outlying suburbs and to evaluate its effect. Methods The "learn-at-lunch" training, "Credit system" management model, "Complementary advantages" lectures, and "One lesson by two lectures" course arrangement employed to train the professional theoretical knowledge, study and share the treatment guidelines, discuss and report the illness cases, and practice skills. A 12-month standardized on-the-job training program was performed in 37 general practitioners from the rural community health service center in the outlying suburbs of Shanghai, and the effectiveness was evaluated. Results After the training, the scores of clinical specialty theory and practice skills of 37 general practitioners were (75.70±6.77) scores and (78.27±6.67) scores, respectively, that was improved obviously when compared with these before the training, the difference was statistically significant (t=3.386 and t=4.460, all P<0.01); After the training, general practitioners' satisfaction with the training time, course schedule, daily management and overall evaluation were improved significantly (all P<0.01); After the training, the ratio of outpatient rehydration and ratio of antibiotic prescriptions were 3.31% and 5.54%, respectively, which showed a declining trend (χ²=1 055.031 and χ²=644.423, both P<0.01). The number of outpatient visits (228 239 vs. 207 108) and the proportion of rational use of antibiotics (81.23%) increased (χ²=289.038, P<0.01). Conclusion The modes of "learn-at-lunch" training, "Credit system" management model, "Complementary advantages" lectures, and "One lesson by two lectures" arrangement have some effectiveness in the on-the-job training for general practitioners in rural community health service center in the outlying suburbs, that is worth of widely application.