Effect of a skills programme on minor surgical workload in general practice.

It is important that educational programmes designed to meet the surgical training needs of general practitioners be demonstrably effective. To measure change in surgical workload and repertoire among participants in a surgical skills training programme. Log diary of surgical workload of five general practitioners during and four years following a surgical skills programme in 1992. Respondents operated on twice as many surgical cases in the follow-up period as in the baseline period. The increased volume of work was made up of a wider range of procedures for all respondents. Referral of minor surgical cases fell from 22% to 1.4% between periods. Surgical workload and repertoire is increased among participants in a minor surgical skills programme four years later.