Evaluation of minor surgery courses for general practitioners

This paper describes the evaluation of a two-day minor surgery training course for general practitioners and vocational trainees. The course was developed by a team from a wide range of specialties. A pilot run of six of these courses was held in various locations in the United Kingdom during 1994, organized by the Royal College of General Practitioners and supported by the Department of Health. The courses were attended by 144 participants in total: 52 general practitioners and 92 vocational trainees. The evaluation addressed (a) the process of training which resulted in substantial changes being made to the original design and content of the courses; and (b) the outcome of the training in terms of knowledge, confidence and competence. A central feature of the course was the use of sophisticated simulated tissue. Participant feedback indicated that although the simulated tissue was not considered to be very realistic it substantially increased levels of confidence and competence to carry out minor surgery. Knowledge on various aspects of minor surgery increased significantly. The feedback from the evaluation was forwarded to a minor surgery working party at the Department of Health whose remit was to prepare guidelines for teaching, authorising and carrying out minor surgery in general practice.