Cross-disciplinary “General Learning Objectives” for postgraduate medical training: Prioritisation of five competency domains using a Delphi process

Objective

The Swiss postgraduate education regulations stipulate that teaching be guided by cross-disciplinary “General Learning Objectives” (GLOs) based on the CanMEDS roles. Notwithstanding these regulations, teaching activities and performance criteria for GLOs are scarcely evident in postgraduate training programmes. The primary aim of this study was to determine the reasons why too little emphasis is placed on GLOs in postgraduate training programmes. A secondary aim was to define a reduced set of needs-based cross-disciplinary competencies that trainees should develop during their postgraduate medical training. Methodology: A Delphi study was conducted to survey postgraduate trainees and heads of training centres throughout Switzerland. In two rounds of surveys, data were collected on (1) why too little emphasis is placed on GLOs in postgraduate training and (2) which GLOs are considered relevant. Based on these results, the GLOs were then consolidated into competency domains.