Positive experiences with a specialist as facilitator in general practice.

INTRODUCTION The use of facilitators for quality improvement in general practice has accelerated during the past decade. As general practitioners (GPs) or pharmacists have typically been used as facilitators, there is a lack of knowledge of how other professionals function as facilitators. This article explores the experiences and assessments of GPs and nurses participating in a project in which a medical specialist (endocrinologist) acted as a facilitator for quality improvement. METHODS This study is based on observations of facilitation sessions and interviews with the health professionals (13 GPs, four nurses, one endocrinologist) participating in a facilitation project in the Capital Region of Denmark. RESULTS The facilitator sessions primarily focused on pharmacological issues related to diabetes treatment. The respondents described the facilitation sessions as a positive and motivating learning experience, and the majority of them were able to point to specific learning outcomes. CONCLUSION The results suggest that for selected medical issues, a trained medical specialist can act as a facilitator in general practice to the satisfaction of GPs and staff. Future studies should assess the clinical effects of such facilitation programmes.