There are a number of learning needs assessment tools listed further below. In addition, GP trainers will find some very helpful material on the following websites:
- Pennine GP Training Website – There are some excellent resources in the trainers section of this website including case scenarios for tutorials and video clips suitable for discussing COT competencies. There are also helpful downloads related to each of the GP curriculum statements.
- Wessex Deanery GP Resources and Information Page
- Business Balls – A free website containing resources from the world of business, many of which are highly relevant to general practice. For example, sections on negotiation, time management, meetings, interviews, CVs, leadership skills, assertiveness and personality theories could be useful in the context of GP training.
- GP Online – free GP training resources from GP Magazine
AKT Resources
Chris Cates EBM Website – an excellent resource for revision of statistics knowledge and skills
Books for the Practice Library
Many training practices no longer keep paper copies of medical journals and most information is accessed online. However, there are a few books that it is worth keeping in the practice library for trainees to refer to. Here are a few suggestions:
The Inner Consultation by Roger Neighbour
The Inner Apprentice by Roger Neighbour
The New Consultation by David Pendleton
The Doctor, His Patient and the Illness by John Balint
Curriculum Checklist
The Driver Questionnaire
Drivers are:
- Unconscious internal pressures that makes us do things certain ways, e.g. with speed, perfection, little emotion etc.
- Often inappropriate or unhelpful in obtaining results. They tend to satisfy inner needs rather than actual events.
- Good for identifying external signs that reflect internal processes.
The five Drivers are: Be Perfect; Hurry Up; Please People; Be Strong; Try Hard.
The Driver Questionnaire identifies your drivers which you may find helpful to complete with your GP learner.
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Gold Guide
Honey and Mumford
Johari Window
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Learning Needs Assessment
Conducting a learning needs assessment is never straightforward. It is however essential that this is performed properly at the start of the GP trainee’s placement. There are formal and informal methods of performing a learning needs assessment. It is helpful to use a combination, as using a number of different tools ensures your assessment is sound.
Formal Methods
- Manchester rating scale
- Wolverhampton Grid
- RCGP PEP – this is a useful resource which is free to all GP Trainees. It is an MCQ style assessment of the different curriculum areas and gives a numerical score upon completion of the paper.
- RCGP curriculum rating – this has been developed by the College. It is a confidence rating scale, which has in part superseded the Wolverhampton grid and Manchester rating scale – although they still have their place. The RCGP rating scale allows GP Trainees to rate their level of confidence in different areas of the curriculum.
Informal Methods
- Recording PUNS and DENS
- Case Based Discussions (CBDs)
- Random Case Analysis (RCA)
- Conducting joint surgeries
- Video consulting analysis
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