BackgroundRecruitment into general practice is falling and many training programmes in the UK have unfilled training posts. In 2016 NHS England pledged to increase the number of graduates entering GP training to 50%. However in 2017 only 15.3% of foundation year 2 doctors commenced general practice.AimThis work aims to understand medical students’ perceptions of a career in general practice, and how this may affect their career intentions.MethodAs part of a larger, longitudinal study at four UK universities. First and fourth year students were invited to a focus group to discuss their perceptions of a career in general practice. The recordings were transcribed and content analysis was performed.ResultsThe perceptions discussed could be broadly grouped into three categories. ‘The GP’ highlighted students’ ideas of the GP as someone who was dedicated, could create rapport, and wanted a family life. The ‘Job of the GP’ indicated students were positive about the continuity of care the job offered, but felt the work was isolating and paperwork heavy. Finally, external factors such as denigration and the ‘GP land’ concept also had an impact on students’ perceptions.ConclusionFurther work is needed to understand how these perceptions develop, how this may impact students career intentions, and how this research could be used to improve GP recruitment. This data will form part of a wider longitudinal study, the results of which will be analysed for themes and personal narratives of the students.
Assessing factors for choosing a primary care specialty in medical students; A longitudinal study
