A new study by the RACGP’s GP Training Research team has examined the effects of telehealth on general practitioner (GP) education in Australia. Telehealth was widely adopted by over 90% of general practices in Australia during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to significant changes in healthcare delivery.
During 2020-21, telehealth accounted for an estimated 21% of GP registrar consultations, predominantly via telephone. The RACGP study, published in Medical Education, investigated this impact on GP registrars' education by interviewing 15 registrars, five supervisors, and five medical educators.
The research found that telehealth disrupted learning interactions. Registrars reported difficulties involving supervisors during consultations. Irena Patsan, the study's first author, stated that telehealth altered the typical learning environment, resulting in registrars seeking supervisory advice post-consultation rather than during the consultation itself. Educators expressed concern that this delay reduced opportunities for immediate feedback.
Additionally, the study identified reduced opportunities for in-person clinical education, as telehealth consultations often focused on simpler issues such as repeat prescriptions or follow-up discussions. Co-author Parker Magin noted these findings align with the ReCEnT project, which documented shorter consultation durations, less frequent in-consultation supervisory advice, fewer problems addressed, and infrequent physical examinations. Patsan added that these lessons are relevant internationally.
The authors concluded that the rapid uptake of telehealth altered the social learning environment for registrars within practices. They highlighted the need for telehealth-specific training to optimize registrar learning during consultations as telehealth use continues. Dr. Linda Klein, the study’s senior author, commented that while telehealth offers benefits for practices and patients, its implementation, particularly for training registrars, requires careful consideration. She suggested that telehealth might be more suitable for registrars who have gained more confidence and require less in-practice supervision.
Associate Professor James Brown, RACGP’s Director of Medical Education, indicated that the project demonstrates the importance of practice-focused research during periods of change and provides insights for maintaining effective training in evolving environments. He added that its publication in a pre-eminent medical education journal attests to the work's importance and quality.