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Table 1 Themes from the qualitative data

From: General practitioners as educators in adolescent health: a training evaluation

 

Theme

Participant data

Knowledge of adolescent health issues

Access to general practice

I have a better idea about the lack of knowledge that young people have about accessing the health care system. GP

Adolescent health issues

to have a little bit of a feel for the statistics and what’s actually happening out there was valuable. I learned about self-harm and I learned about illicit drugs and that was information I didn’t have before. GP

‘getting a feel for drugs (especially illicit drugs), mental health issues and self harm. Haven’t come across self- harm – bigger than I thought. GP

Confidence to engage with adolescents

Listen

When I consult with teenagers I will listen a lot more and try and get a feel for what they really want to talk about, rather than my thing. (GPR)

Don’t make assumptions about prior knowledge

The one way it’s going to impact on me is to… take a step back with them and make sure that they understand what they’re talking about. (GPR)

…the issues or concerns that young people have when they come to see a GP, things like really worrying about confidentiality, and now knowing that’ that’s something I have to reassure them about, first off. MS

beforehand I just …made the assumption that if they’re here at the appointment that they’ve got their stuff sorted and they know how to do it, so I’ve sort of changed in that regard.’ GPR

Get the language right

It helped get a good idea of where the ‘sweet spot’ is in terms of not dumbing it down too much, but not having too much jargon for that age group. MS

How to structure a consult

I learnt things that I’ll be able to use in practice about engaging people MS

the exposure to teaching young people has [given me] an idea of how I structure a consult. MS

 

Include adolescent health issues

I am now making a more conscious effort to make sure that mental health issues are covered. GPR)

Teaching skills & confidence to facilitate small groups

Confidence and enthusiasm

I’m now more confident about teaching certainly. MS

I came away wanting to learn more about all the different types of teaching methods. GPR

I am more keen to teach. (GPR)

I am more keen to teach…‘because it’s taken away a bit of the fear.’ GPR

Planning a lesson/using a lesson plan template

I’m more confident in my ability to design a relatively structured lesson plan. MS

I feel more well equipped to plan … and carry out a teaching session. GPR

Planning definitely; different techniques; the template was helpful; better prepared, better equipped for it. (GPR)

It’s great to have a tool to actually work it out… how you’re actually going to run this. GP

Teaching strategies for health education with adolescents

It’s given me some tools to use rather than just feeling like right, well I need to get up there and tell them all I know.’ GPR

I did come out of there with new strategies for myself for teaching that maybe the medical student might have used, or what other groups [used], that was really helpful to come back and talk about what worked and what didn’t work. GP

I’ve tended to kind of just talk and talk and talk to people…[and now realise I need to] let there be more communication going on rather than that kind of didactic type of thing. GP

I just learnt that engaging the kids it’s easier if they do self directed things, asking them questions and activities and stuff like that. MS