Community preceptors' views of a required third-year family medicine clerkship
D. O. Kollisch, P. Y. Frasier, L. Slatt and M. Storaasli
Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies documented the importance of family medicine
clerkships to medical student education and to the potential costs of
precepting students borne by community physicians. But what are the
physicians' views of their experience, their perceived needs for teaching,
and sources of satisfaction from the preceptor role? OBJECTIVES: To explore
preceptors' views of a required, third-year family medicine clerkship,
focusing on satisfaction with the teaching experience, effect of having
students in the practice, and concerns about continuing as a preceptor.
METHODS: Preceptors from 38 private practices were asked to participate in
a 15-minute telephone survey, using a semistructured interview format.
RESULTS: Thirty-five physicians (92%) agreed to participate and 33 of the
35 primary preceptors were interviewed. Of those interviewed, 29 (88%)
indicated a positive teaching experience, and 31 (94%) desired to continue
precepting. Intangible rewards (eg, love of teaching or "giving back" to
the specialty of family medicine) far out-weighed tangible rewards (eg,
dinners or letters of appreciation) with regard to their desire to precept.
Continued satisfaction with precepting seemed to be affected by loss of
revenue to the practice, longer work hours, ability to effectively manage
time and patient load, and need for additional educational resources and
equipment. CONCLUSIONS: Intrinsic rewards seem to be a key factor in the
physicians' decision to precept. Moreover, to reinforce the preceptor's
continued desire to precept, faculty development, provision of educational
tools and resources, and remuneration may be necessary. Preceptors should
be asked routinely about their needs, and special programs of support
should be offered.
