What are the characteristics of the competent general practitioner trainer?
GROUND: Increasing attention is being given to the training of doctors to become teachers. This does not apply only to the schooling of teachers in undergraduate medical education: at the postgraduate level, general practitioner trainers (GP-trainers) receive special schooling to prepare them for their role. Yet the skills, knowledge and traits that should be expected in the competent GP-trainer have not been elucidated precisely. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research project is to determine the traits, knowledge and skills required for a competent GP-trainer. METHOD: We used a qualitative method to answer the question. Ten focus-group meetings were held involving three Departments of Vocational Training in The Netherlands. Each group consisted of GP-trainers, GP-trainees or staff members. The transcriptions of these meetings were analysed, resulting in a description of what makes a competent GP-trainer. RESULTS: Five hundred items were obtained from the focus-group meetings, each of wh
