PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - P Myers
TI  - The objective assessment of general practitioners' educational needs: an under-researched area?
DP  - 1999 Apr 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - 303--307
VI  - 49
IP  - 441
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/49/441/303.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/49/441/303.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract1999 Apr 01; 49
AB  - A systematic literature review of the educational needs assessment of general practitioners (GPs) is described. A total of 36 studies, based on the subject of educational needs in primary care, were identified. The methods of searching and the difficulties in identifying papers on the chosen subject are discussed. Although there is an extensive literature on the reporting of the perception of GPs' learning needs, there have been relatively few studies describing their objective evaluation. Seventeen papers on this subject are described, and it was found that questionnaires and structured interviews were the most usual method adopted. There is a case for developing and evaluating a wider range of methods for assessing educational needs in primary care, particularly if the move towards portfolio-based learning is to gain momentum.