Teaching GP Consulting Skills in Gippsland

Abstract

This article reports the author's experience of designing, teaching and evaluating a 2–day workshop on GP Consulting and Basic Counselling Skills for Family Medicine Programme trainees in Gippsland, Australia. After reviewing the objectives of the workshop and characteristics of the participants, the article outlines the process and content of the workshop. These include description of a conceptual framework, learning of specific aspects through structured exercises, and use of video review both of previously taped consultations with patients and of role-plays. Results of evaluation by self perception, both at the end of each workshop and 3 months subsequently, are reported and discussed. Overall the workshop has been found to be effective in introducing FMP trainees to key aspects of general practice consulting and basic counselling, and in providing the trainees with opportunities to increase their range of skills for patient care and counselling in general practice.