General practitioner training in palliative care: An experiential approach

With the rising incidence of cancer and with more terminally ill patients w ishing to be cared for at home, it is clear that there is a growing need fo r general practitioners (GPs) who are skilled in providing palliative care. In an attempt to improve the palliative care knowledge and skills of GPs i n Western Australia and the quality of care they provide, a 14-week trainin g program was developed by the Silver Chain Nursing Association and the Per th South Eastern Division of General Practice. The program used experientia l learning techniques, such as a clinical attachment and mentoring. Researc h has shown that performance-based rather than cognitive education methods have a greater impact on practice outcomes. The program was evaluated by an external body and found to have achieved its objectives. The results of th e evaluation are discussed, together with their implications for postgradua te education.