BACKGROUND:

The impact of the ageing population on the paediatric clinical experiences of general practice registrars is unknown.

METHODS:

A secondary analysis of the Registrar Clinical Encounters in Training dataset to examine the distribution of visit proportions and length, and the most common diagnoses seen (by patient age) by registrars in the general practice setting.

RESULTS:

Children aged less than 4 years comprised 9% of patients seen, 5-14 years, 8%, and 15-19 years comprised 6%. Registrars spent the most time in consultations with patients aged 65+ years and the least time with children aged 5-14 years. Registrars reported significantly more extended consultations of more than 40 minutes with seniors than with children aged less than 4 years. Of all consultations for children aged less than 4 years, only one was for more than 40 minutes.

DISCUSSION:

Exposure of general practice registrars to chronic illness in children, and to a range of diagnostic conditions, may be quite limited. Specific efforts and interventions may be required to ensure that registrars gain adequate experience to provide competent primary care to all age groups.