The Implementation of a Professional Development Programme for Family Medicine residents in the Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar

This change project centers on the implementation of a professional development program for Family Medicine residents in Primary Health Care Corporation. Like many other residency programs in the region, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International (ACGME-I) Outcome Project was recently launched by Family Medicine Residency Program in Qatar. The aim of the project was to equip family medicine residents with the important knowledge and skills related to managerial, legal and communication issues. And the long-term goals were to optimize the residents’ chances for career success and to provide high- quality services in primary care practice. It is a planned, sequential, long-term program that includes a strong emphasis on the non-clinical career enhancement competencies already identified and prioritized by the ACGME-I. These competencies include Professionalism, Interpersonal and communication skills, Practice-based learning and improvement and System-based practice. Using the Senior and Swailes Organizational Development model to support the change, a five-day professional development program was developed and delivered to 39 Family Medicine residents from four Post Graduate Year levels. The Kirkpatrick’s four-level model was used in the evaluation. A positive reaction to the program was achieved as well as improvement in residents’ knowledge and skills. While the results are promising based on the initial evaluation of the project following implementation, it is clear, however, that a longer study on whether the effect of the program on residents performance is sustained is required and this will require ongoing evaluation and input from all those attending.