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Volume 26 (3)
Volume 26, Issue 3, Summer 2006
J Contin Educ Health Prof 2006; 26(3):222-229
RESEARCH ARTICLE
A model of teaching-learning transactions in generalist-specialist consultations
Marianna B. Shershneva
Molly Carnes
Lori L. Bakken
A b s t r a c t
Introduction: A new paradigm in continuing medical education is characterized by emphasis
on physicians’ learning in practice. Consistent with this paradigm, our study examined a
subset of clinical practice—generalist-specialist consultations—from an educational perspective.
Methods: We applied the grounded-theory method with semistructured interviews. Ten primary
care physicians and 9 internal medicine subspecialists were interviewed regarding
their approaches to learning and teaching during generalist-specialist consultations.
Results: Based on 48 formal and informal consultations reported by physicians, we developed
a theory of teaching-learning transactions in generalist-specialist consultations.
Discussion: As a teaching-learning transaction, the mutual learning process in generalistspecialist
consultations involves 3 components: needs assessment, dialogue, and sufficiency.
Providers of continuing medical education may use the proposed theoretical framework to
help clinicians and health care organizations analyze and enhance educationally valuable
interactions at the interface of primary and secondary care.
Lessons for Practice
- Every consulting physician is a potential learner and teacher.
- A complete teaching-learning transaction in a generalist-specialist consultation includes (1) recognizing one’s own
or a colleague’s learning needs (or both), (2) an exchange of valuable information in a noncondescending way,
and (3) satisfying learning needs, to the extent possible.
Key Words: Physicians’ learning, learning theory, continuing medical education, generalistspecialist
consultation
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