Training in therapeutic patient education of French primary care physicians : practices and perceived needs

Abstract

Introduction: Undergraduate medical education curricula in France rarely include training in patient education and few data is available for postgraduates training. The aim was to assess actual practices, perceptions, and needs of French primary care physicians in the field of postgraduate training in patient education. Methods: A total of 2083 physicians completed a detailed questionnaire on current practices, perceptions and needs with respect to training in patient education. Results: Overall, the attitude of physicians towards patient education was positive and they are largely involved. Half of them underwent training in the last 12 months, and another 25% were planning to do some. However, there was a conflict between effective practices and perceived needs. Involvement in an association of patients and working in a group practice are positively correlated with the enrolment to TPE trainings. Lack of time was the main reason given by physicians who did not plan any training. Conclusion: The results of this study highlight the gap between primary care physicians’ intentions and their feedback concerning current practices, as well as the difficulty experienced by primary care physicians in “catching up” with the social dimensions that were missed out in undergraduate medical education. This survey raises questions about the initial training of primary care physicians in France. The complexity of patient management means that a body of knowledge needs to be created, including input from the field of human and social sciences.