Analysis of the current status, challenges, and strategies of continuing professional development for graduates of rural bonded general practitioner education program in Guizhou province

Abstract

Background: The competency of graduates of rural bonded general practice education program has attracted widespread attention. Strengthening continuing professional development is an important measure to enhance the competency of general practitioners (GPs) who graduated from the bonded medical program. Objective: To understand the current status, challenges, and needs of continuing professional development for doctors who graduated from the bonded medical program in Guizhou Province, and to inform the improvement of the continuing professional development. Methods: Between November and December 2021, a combination of purposive sampling and snowball sampling was used to select 42 GPs who graduated from the bonded medical program from 39 township health centers across nine cities (prefectures) in Guizhou Province as research subjects. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the results were analyzed using a procedural grounded theory method. Results: Through three-level coding, a total of 145 concepts, 23 categories, and 5 main categories were ultimately organized, leading to one storyline: the continuing professional development of the GPs is influenced by multiple factors. The actual conditions pose the main obstacles, while capability and quality act as external drivers, policies and systems provide crucial safeguards, and inherent needs serve as internal motivators. Improving training process management is identified as the key element. Conclusion: The willingness of the rural GPs in Guizhou Province to undergo training needs to be strengthened. The quality of continuing professional development, the relevance of training content to their needs, and the level of attention from primary care facilities require improvement. There should be enhanced support for continuing professional development and the development of an information platform. Developing suitable education content and training formats for GPs who graduated from bonded medical program is essential to enhance the quality and effectiveness of continuing professional development.

Keywords

• General practitioners
• Graduates of rural bonded general practice education program
• Education, medical
• Health policy
• Health workforce
• Primary health care