Qualitative Evaluation of a Pilot Physician Training Program in Long-Term Care Facilities in Switzerland

Eve Rubli Truchard; Laura Jones; Francesca Bosisio; Tosca Bizzozzero; Alexandre Ronga; Ralf J Jox; Christophe Büla

doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2023.12.008

Qualitative Evaluation of a Pilot Physician Training Program in Long-Term Care Facilities in Switzerland

J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2024 Feb;25(2):275-277.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.12.008. Epub 2024 Jan 8.

Authors

Eve Rubli Truchard¹, Laura Jones², Francesca Bosisio³, Tosca Bizzozzero⁴, Alexandre Ronga⁵, Ralf J Jox⁶, Christophe Büla⁷

Affiliations

¹ Service of Geriatric Medicine and Geriatric Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Geriatric Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: Eve.Rubli@chuv.ch.
² Geriatric Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
³ School of Management and Engineering Vaud, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Delemont, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Geriatrics, Long Care Unit, EHC Hospital, Morges, Switzerland.
⁵ Department of Family Medicine, Unisanté, Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁶ Geriatric Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁷ Service of Geriatric Medicine and Geriatric Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

PMID: 38211938
DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.12.008

Abstract

Increasing demand for long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and increasingly complex medical needs of LTCF residents necessitate recruiting new physician graduates and developing programs which provide them with experience and specific skills in geriatric and palliative medicine. We developed an educational program for physicians in training, which combines 1 year of immersion at 20% full-time equivalent with (1) theoretical teaching, (2) clinical exposure under the supervision of a senior LTCF physician, and (3) structured case presentations and debriefing with experienced geriatricians. This article presents a preliminary qualitative evaluation of this program from the perspectives of the trainees, supervising physicians, and public health stakeholders. The program was well accepted by all parties and showed positive effects on trainees' interest in long-term care medicine. Suggestions for improving future programs and their implementation are provided.

Keywords: Geriatric medicine; long-term care facilities; palliative medicine; postgraduate physician training.

MeSH terms

Aged
Health Facilities
Humans
Internship and Residency*
Long-Term Care
Physicians*
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Switzerland