Training general practice/family medicine residents on quality of care improvement and patient safety: a scoping review

Background Training General Practice/Family Medicine (GP/FM) residents on quality of care (QoC) improvement and patient safety (PS) is expected to significantly contribute to the enhancement of their clinical skills and the promotion of a safety culture in primary care. Despite international initiatives, such as the World Health Organization’s Global Patient Safety Action Plan, quality and safety training remains insufficient in many countries.Aim This scoping review aimed to identify training programs for GP/FM residents focusing on QoC and/or PS.Methods We searched three databases (PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane) for English-language studies outlining relevant training programs that target GP/FM residents. Two independent researchers conducted data screening and extraction.Results Out of the 1624 articles retrieved, 21 met the inclusion criteria. Most programs originated from the US (n = 17, 80.9%). Among identified curricula, 11 (52.4%) addressed QoC, 7 (33.3%) PS, whilst 3 (14.3%) both QoC/PS. Content heterogeneity was noted, while the majority included core QoC/PS concepts and quality improvement tools. A combination of educational methods was utilised, including didactic lectures, online modules and interactive approaches like simulations, role-playing and group assignments. Program duration varied widely from one month (n = 7, 33.3%) to three years (n = 7, 33.3%). Eight (38.1%) programs incorporated pre- and post-training assessment.Conclusions Findings indicate the limited QoC/PS training opportunities for GP/FM residents and a marked heterogeneity in identified curricula. Aligning with international recommendations and best practices, the development of effective QoC/PS training programs for future GPs is of utmost importance to safeguard, invigorate and advance primary care services of quality and safety.