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. 2005 Dec;10(10):591-4.
doi: 10.1093/pch/10.10.591.

Meeting the need to train more doctors: The role of community-based preceptors

Thomas B Lacroix  1
Affiliations

Meeting the need to train more doctors: The role of community-based preceptors

Thomas B Lacroix. Paediatr Child Health. 2005 Dec.

Abstract
in English, French

Community-based precepting is becoming a critical component of Canadian medical education. Calls from the public to train increased numbers of physicians have placed more students in community-based settings. Other countries are facing similar situations. Understanding the factors that make community-based practitioners decide to teach plays a significant role in recruiting and retaining potential preceptors. Ensuring that there are appropriate numbers of trainees and administrative supports, and that there is adequate recognition of these teachers, may be more important than financial incentives. A positive experience has been shown to reduce stress, enhance professional satisfaction and increase patients' perceptions of their physicians. Ultimately, a positive experience can influence a trainee to take root in a community-based setting. Recognizing the most common causes of preceptor burnout will help to protect this group of faculty. Some of the myths surrounding community precepting, including massive time commitments, significant financial impact and poor patient acceptance of medical students, are discussed. Providing a range of tools to further educate and support this group of medical teachers is critical, especially in light of the rapidly expanding number of training positions.

Le préceptorat en milieu communautaire devient un élément essentiel de la formation médicale au Canada. En raison des demandes du public de former plus de médecins, on trouve plus d’étudiants en milieu communautaire. D’autres pays affrontent des situations similaires. Si on comprend les facteurs qui incitent les praticiens en milieu communautaire à enseigner, il deviendra beaucoup plus facile de recruter et de retenir des précepteurs potentiels. Des mesures pour garantir que ces professeurs reçoivent un nombre satisfaisant de stagiaires et un soutien administratif et pour s’assurer qu’ils sont reconnus à leur juste valeur pourraient avoir plus d’importance que les incitatifs financiers. Il est démontré qu’une expérience positive réduit le stress, accroît la satisfaction professionnelle et améliore la perception que les patients se font de leur médecin. En définitive, une expérience positive peut inciter un stagiaire à s’implanter en milieu communautaire. Lorsqu’on aura repéré les principales causes d’épuisement professionnel des précepteurs, ce groupe de professeurs sera mieux protégé. Certains mythes entourant le préceptorat communautaire sont abordés, y compris le temps considérable qu’il faudrait y consacrer, ses énormes répercussions financières et la mauvaise acceptation des étudiants en médecine par les patients. La distribution d’une gamme d’outils pour mieux former et soutenir ce groupe de professeurs de médecine s’impose, surtout à la lumière de l’augmentation rapide des postes de formation.

Keywords: Burnout; Community; Costs; Preceptor; Recognition; Stress.

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