What is the role of 'theory' in training GP trainers?

Abstract

A recent evaluation paper of the London General Practitioner Trainer Course by Knight et al questions the importance of educational theory in preparing GPs to become trainers and asks 'how much educational theory do GP trainers need to know in order to train effectively?' This paper places the authors' question under consideration, arguing that before the relationship between the theory and practice of education can be considered, the nature of 'educational practice' needs examination. There then follows a discussion of the work of Della Fish which presents two conceptualisations of educational practice in the context of postgraduate medical education in order to shed light on the different inferences contrasting epistemological and ontological conceptions can have, and the implications for curricula. This discussion is illustrated by offering the reader connections to papers in the field as evidence. At the heart of the paper is a conclusion that curriculum development and enquiry need to be sensitive to epistemological and ontological positionality as well as experiences and perceptions.