ABSTRACT
The emphasis might be different, as medical students are able to do less than GP registrars, but sound practice-based teaching uses all the models of sitting in. GP registrars often have more free time to talk about each consultation and, as they are in training, should be valuable sources of knowledge. Simple observation of supervisors also has a valuable role in postgraduate training. It is a useful means of orienting a new registrar to the practice on day one, when the registrar's workload might be light. Different GPs have different personalities and exhibit different consultation and communication styles. Supervisors sit in with their learners and allow the learner to be largely in control of the consultation. Some medical schools use the term shadowing to describe what might be almost constant observation by learners of their supervisors. Naturally, patients should consent to having a learner in the room with them, particularly if the learner is participating in the consultation.
