Assessment of needs and perceived competence of novice clinical teachers

The CeMENT Project (Community based Medical Education in North Thames) attempts to implement effective community based medical education. Part of the project involves a professional development programme for community undergraduate tutors. 'teaching the teachers to teach'. This paper describes how the perceived abilities and needs of novice clinical teachers were identified and how effectively they were addressed by such a programme. A questionnaire was administered to the participants at the start of the professional development programme. This allowed the course organisers to address the areas the participants felt needed the most work. A second similar questionnaire at the end of the programme enquired whether needs expressed were met, and whether the tutors felt more prepared and confident in their teaching abilities. The answers from the questionnaires together with informal information gathered weekly and at the end of the programme revealed that the participants felt that the course addressed their needs with regard preparing for leaching. The respondents to the questionnaire indicated they felt more prepared for teaching, and more confident in their teaching ability.