Master's degree-accredited professional education and development courses for general practitioners in the North Western Deanery 1997-2002: impact on effectiveness, retention and recruitment to additional roles

There is a shortage of general practitioners (GPs) in the UK. Retaining the GPs we have in post will help to maximise the workforce. GPs are needed to deliver and lead developments in primary healthcare. This study reviews the outcomes of a professional education and development (PED) course run by the North Western Deanery together with the School of Health and Postgraduate Medicine University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) as part of an MSc in general practice. A questionnaire was used to explore the outcomes of the course, and in particular whether participants considered it had affected the length of time they would work, the impact of the course and the roles they had developed. A total of 150 questionnaires were sent out and 81 were returned (response rate 54%). Of the replies, 29 (36.8%) said they were likely to continue working longer as a result of the course. Participants felt they were more effective in their work roles. Many participants have taken up other roles within medical education and primary care trusts (PCTs), or are planning to do so. There has been between a two-to-four-fold increase in the number of participants who are involved in PCT work, GP training, GP appraisal or as general practitioners with special interests (GPwSIs). The skills that participants learn in management of self and others may help them to be more effective in these roles. Comments were analysed to identify what factors make the course effective. Providing a confidential environment supported by peers may enable doctors to improve their effectiveness and morale. The course is of benefit to both recently qualified GPs and those with 15 years' experience and beyond. The course costs approximately £2000 per participant. This represents value for money when compared to the overall costs of training a GP. © 2006 Radcliffe Publishing Limited.