Training educational supervisors to support physician trainees returning to practice

Physicians take time out of training for a variety of reasons
and, on their return, they often lack confidence and feel ‘out of
touch’. These trainees require enhanced support and concerns
have been raised about trainers’ lack of skills and knowledge
in this area. A standardised workshop was developed and
delivered to address this with a mixed-methods evaluation
approach used to analyse data from participants before
and after training. Quantitative analysis showed significant
pre- to post-course improvements in trainers’ ability to
understand, explain and manage issues pertaining to trainees
taking time out of training. Qualitative analysis yielded three
‘learning’ themes surrounding knowledge, understanding
and awareness of support needed for returning trainees and
three ‘action’ themes surrounding disseminating information,
providing resources and actively supporting returning trainees.
Framework analysis of follow-up interviews demonstrated not
only retention of topics learned but also positive changes in
behaviour.