Using differences between perceptions of importance and competence to identify teaching needs of primary care preceptors

Background: An important goal of a comprehensive faculty development plan is to improve teaching. This is especially important for clinical preceptors. Purpose: This study used a novel approach to assessing the teaching needs of preceptors, an essential and often neglected first step in faculty development. Measurement focused on discrepancies between importance and current performance related to a rich variety of teaching behaviors. This study also considered differences in perceived teaching needs among primary care specialties. Method: Twenty-six clerkship directors from 13 participating medical schools in the Northeast United States invited randomly selected family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatric preceptors to complete a teaching needs survey. One hundred five preceptors responded. Result: Findings revealed that preceptors most need to develop general teaching skills that will help them save time such as selecting appropriate teaching behaviors, assessing learners' needs and providing appro...