Enhancing Remote GP Supervision Through Registrar Feedback

Supervision quality is crucial to the development and satisfaction of general practice (GP) registrars—especially in rural and remote areas, where supervision often occurs from a distance. A recent article published in BMC Medical Education, titled “A novel general practice registrar to supervisor feedback system for distance education in rural areas,” presents an innovative approach to improving this vital aspect of GP training.

Led by Dr. Taras Mikulin, RVTS Adjunct Research Associate, and coauthored by Dr. Pat Giddings (RVTS CEO), Dr. Ronda Gurney (RVTS Director of Training), and Dr. Belinda O’Sullivan (Monash University, QLD), the study introduces a practical, easy-to-administer feedback system designed specifically for distance supervision within the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).

Over three years (2020–2022), 106 first-year registrars completed a short questionnaire evaluating their supervisors across three key domains: bond strength, task agreement, and goal setting. The majority reported high satisfaction with supervision bonds (93%) and task support (89%), but only 50% felt their supervisors had a strong understanding of their personal training goals.

The system proved to be safe, constructive, and effective—promptly identifying areas of concern, allowing internal support where needed, and facilitating more open discussions about supervision. As a result, it is now a standardised component of the RVTS program.

This study offers a valuable model for improving the quality of remote medical education and supporting the future rural GP workforce through structured, registrar-led feedback.

Want to learn more about this important step in rural health innovation?
Read the full article here on BMC Medical Education