Applying evidence-based medicine in general practice : a video-stimulated interview study on workplace-based observation

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) in general practice involves applying a complex combination of best-available evidence, the patient's preferences and the general practitioner's (GP) clinical expertise in decision-making. GPs and GP trainees learn how to apply EBM informally by observing each other's consultations, as well as through more deliberative forms of workplace-based learning. This study aims to gain insight into workplace-based EBM learning by investigating the extent to which GP supervisors and trainees recognise each other's EBM behaviour through observation, and by identifying aspects that influence their recognition. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative multicentre study based on video-stimulated recall interviews (VSI) of paired GP supervisors and GP trainees affiliated with GP training institutes in Belgium and the Netherlands. The GP pairs (n = 22) were shown fragments of their own and their partner's consultations and were asked to elucidate their own EBM considerations and the ones they recognised in their partner's actions. The interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed with NVivo. By comparing pairs who recognised each other's considerations well with those who did not, we developed a model describing the aspects that influence the observer's recognition of an actor's EBM behaviour. RESULTS: Overall, there was moderate similarity between an actor's EBM behaviour and the observer's recognition of it. Aspects that negatively influence recognition are often observer-related. Observers tend to be judgemental, give unsolicited comments on how they would act themselves and are more concerned with the trainee-supervisor relationship than objective observation. There was less recognition when actors used implicit reasoning, such as mindlines (internalised, collectively reinforced tacit guidelines). Pair-related aspects also played a role: previous discussion of a specific topic or EBM decision-making generally enhanced recognition. Consultation-specific aspects played only a marginal role. CONCLUSIONS: GP trainees and supervisors do not fully recognise EBM behaviour through observing each other's consultations. To improve recognition of EBM behaviour and thus benefit from informal observational learning, observers need to be aware of automatic judgements that they make. Creating explicit learning moments in which EBM decision-making is discussed, can improve shared knowledge and can also be useful to unveil tacit knowledge derived from mindlines

GP trainees’ perceptions on learning EBM using conversations in the workplace : a video-stimulated interview study

Background To be able to practice evidence-based medicine (EBM) when making decisions for individual patients, it is important to learn how to combine the best available evidence with the patient's preferences and the physician's clinical expertise. In general practice training, these skills can be learned at the workplace using learning conversations: meetings between the supervising general practitioner (GP) and GP trainee to discuss medical practice, selected topics or professional performance. This study aimed to give insight into the perceptions of GP trainees on their EBM learning processes during learning conversations. Methods We held semi-structured video-stimulated elicitation interviews (n = 22) with GP trainees affiliated to GP training institutes in the Netherlands and Belgium. GP trainees were shown fragments of their learning conversations, enabling reflection during the interview. Taking an inductive approach, interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed with NVivo software. Results GP trainees perceived learning conversations as useful for learning and discussing EBM. Multiple EBM learning activities were identified, such as discussing evidence together, relating evidence to cases in daily practice and discussing the supervisor's experience and the specific local context in the light of what the evidence recommends. However, for learning to occur, trainees need and expect specific behaviour, both from their supervisors and themselves. Supervisors should supply well-substantiated answers that are applicable in practice and give the trainee confirmation. In turn, the trainee needs to prepare well in order to ask focused, in-depth questions. A safe space allowing equal and open discussion between trainee and supervisor is perceived as an essential context for optimal EBM learning. Conclusions Our findings show that trainees find learning conversations useful for EBM learning in general practice. To bring EBM learning to its full potential, attention should be paid to optimising the behavioural and contextual factors found relevant to enhancing EBM learning

Learning conversations with trainees : an undervalued but useful EBM learning opportunity for clinical supervisors

Phenomenon: Supervisors and trainees can learn skills related to evidence-based medicine from each other in the workplace by collaborating and interacting, in this way benefiting from each other's strengths. This study explores supervisors' perceptions of how they currently learn evidence-based medicine by engaging in learning conversations with their trainee. Approach: Semi-structured, video-stimulated elicitation interviews were held with twenty-two Dutch and Belgian supervisors in general practice. Supervisors were shown fragments of their video-recorded learning conversations, allowing them to reflect. Recorded interviews were analyzed using a grounded theory-based approach.Findings: Supervisors did not immediately perceive workplace learning conversations as an opportunity to learn evidence-based medicine from their trainee. They mostly saw these conversations as a learning opportunity for trainees and a chance to maintain the quality of care within their practice. Nevertheless, during the interviews, supervisors did acknowledge that learning conversations help them to gain up-to-date knowledge and search skills or more awareness of their own knowledge or gaps in their knowledge. Not identified as a learning outcome was how to apply evidence-based medicine within a clinical practice by combining evidence with clinical expertise and the patient's preferences. Insights: Supervisors acknowledge that they learn elements of the three aspects of evidence-based medicine by having learning conversations with their trainee, but they currently see this as secondary to the trainee's learning process. Emphasizing opportunities for bidirectional learning could improve learning of evidence-based medicine during workplace learning conversations

Leren van evidence-based besluitvorming

Patiënten verwachten dat een huisarts zorgvuldig onderbouwde beslissingen neemt. De huisarts zal hiervoor kennis van recent wetenschappelijke inzichten moeten combineren met de situatie en wensen van de patiënt en de eigen klinische expertise. Dat is wat we verstaan onder evidence-based medicine (EBM). Hoe leren aios dit op de werkvloer en leren opleiders ook van aios

Learning in (inter)action: Implicit and explicit EBM learning processes at the GP workplace

The main goal of this thesis is to gain a better understanding of current evidence-based medicine (EBM) learning processes at the general practice (GP) workplace. EBM is defined as combining clinical expertise, the preferences of the patient and the best-available evidence when making decisions for individual patients within clinical practice. To investigate how EBM knowledge is both explicitly as implicitly learned by GP-supervisors and GP-trainees, we focus on two ways of learning in particular: observational learning and learning through dialogue during learning conversations. Video-stimulated elicitation interviews with trainees and supervisors showed that observational learning is not occurring optimally in current daily practice and also that bidirectional learning opportunities during learning conversations are not optimally utilized. Conversation Analysis showed that current conversations between supervisors and trainees often hamper bidirectional learning. This thesis ends by recommending that both workplace-based learning opportunities and formal learning moments at the training institute need to be re-examined. It is essential to see EBM learning as a social process. The interactions between supervisor and trainee create their shared knowledge and their EBM behaviour. These insights can be used to create educational designs in line with current learning processes at the workplace and help both trainees and supervisors learn how to apply EBM in practice

Educational strategies to enhance EBM teaching and learning in the workplace: A focus group study

Objectives: This study aimed to gather and synthesise educational strategies that can improve teaching and learning of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in the workplace, and make them concrete by listing ideas for implementing these strategies. Insight into current workplace-based EBM teaching and learning in general practice was the starting point to generate these strategies and ideas. Design: Exploratory, qualitative focus group study, applying the consensus method of the nominal group technique. Setting: Postgraduate medical education; general practitioner (GP) specialty training at University Medical Centre Utrecht, the Netherlands Participants: 33 GPs and 17 GP trainees, divided in four focus groups. Using opportunistic sampling, participants were selected from the GP workplace because of their role as supervisor or trainee. Main outcomes: An overview of educational strategies and ideas on how to implement these strategies in the workplace, followed by the participants' global ranking of the most useful ideas. Results: The supervisors and trainees generated a list of educational improvement strategies that can be applied in learning conversations, while observing each other's consultations, and in (multidisciplinary) learning opportunities in the workplace. Table 1 presents the educational strategies and suggestions for implementing them. Ideas regarded as most useful include taking turns to conduct consultations and observing the other, holding a structured, in-depth discussion after observation, preparing and discussing articles found in relevant journals and on-the-spot searching for relevant evidence during learning conversations. Conclusions: Participants provided an extensive list of educational strategies and ideas on how to implement EBM learning in daily practice. As a great deal of GP training takes place in clinical practice, supervisors and trainees could apply the suggested ideas to enhance EBM teaching and learning in the workplace

Eliciting tacit knowledge : The potential of a reflective approach to video-stimulated interviewing

A Qualitative Space highlights research approaches that push readers and scholars deeper into qualitative methods and methodologies. Contributors to A Qualitative Space may: advance new ideas about qualitative methodologies, methods, and/or techniques; debate current and historical trends in qualitative research; craft and share nuanced reflections on how data collection methods should be revised or modified; reflect on the epistemological bases of qualitative research; or argue that some qualitative practices should end. Share your thoughts on Twitter using the hashtag: #aqualspac

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) - Education and learning from each other in general practice

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) werd geïntroduceerd als hulp bij een leven lang leren. Huisartsen hebben tegenwoordig allemaal een computer op zak en kunnen altijd en overal bij evidence. Toch blijkt integratie van deze evidence, de eigen klinische expertise en de patiëntvoorkeuren bij besluitvorming in de praktijk lastig te zijn. De huisartsopleiding kan meer aandacht besteden aan de manier waarop de 3 onderdelen van EBM expliciet aan de orde komen in de (opleidings)praktijk. En aan de wijze waarop aios en opleider van elkaar kunnen leren