Abstract:and career choices, future research is indicated across a number of institutions to understand the effect of this disparity and explore opportunities for extending and enhancing medical student contact with general practice registrars, especially in metropolitan settings.
“…Specific experiences of a speciality as a medical student and general medical school experiences both have strong influences on students' speciality preferences 28–30 . Nationally, medical students train predominantly in acute care settings and in cities, with limited exposure to general practice and visibility of general practice role models, which are known to be important influences on speciality decision‐making 30–32 . Student interviews were consistent with this finding:So, like at JCU [James Cook University], we have a lot of general practitioners as our sort of clinical coaches in years 4 and 5 and I think that helps because you hear about their cases … they have such good GPs as our clinical coaches (student1)…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…However, only relatively modest proportions (~15%) of final‐year Australian medical students have a first preference for a career in general practice, suggesting that experiences during medical school are failing to inspire sufficient numbers to choose general practice 29 . Specific experiences of a speciality as a medical student and general medical school experiences both have strong influences on students' speciality preferences 28–30 . Nationally, medical students train predominantly in acute care settings and in cities, with limited exposure to general practice and visibility of general practice role models, which are known to be important influences on speciality decision‐making 30–32 .…”
ObjectiveGP vocational training enrolments are declining Australia‐wide and, in the Northern Territory (NT), considered by some as ‘…the litmus test for the national scene’ the decline is precipitous. This research investigates the drivers of declining GP training uptake in the NT and identifies and ranks potential solutions.SettingNT, Australia.ParticipantsTen senior medical students, 6 junior doctors, 11 GP registrars, 11 GP supervisors and 31 stakeholders.DesignMixed methods: scoping review of Australian literature mapping key concepts to GP training pathway stages and marketing/communications; secondary data analyses; key informant interviews; and a stakeholder validation/prioritisation workshop. Interview data were thematically analysed. Workshop participants received summarised study findings and participated in structured discussions of potential solutions prior to nominating top five strategies in each of five categories.ResultsHighly prioritised strategies included increasing prevocational training opportunities in primary care and selecting junior doctors interested in rural generalism and long‐term NT practice. Also ranked highly were: [Medical School] ensuring adequate infrastructure; [Vocational Training] offering high quality, culturally sensitive, flexible professional and personal support; [General Practice] better remunerating GPs; and [Marketing] ensuring positive aspects such as diversity of experiences and expedited GP career opportunities were promoted.ConclusionMultifaceted strategies to increase GP training uptake are needed, which target different stages of GP training. Effective action is likely to require multiple strategies with coordinated action by different jurisdictional and national key stakeholder agencies. Foremost amongst the interventions required is the urgent need to expand primary care training opportunities in NT for prevocational doctors.
“…Specific experiences of a speciality as a medical student and general medical school experiences both have strong influences on students' speciality preferences 28–30 . Nationally, medical students train predominantly in acute care settings and in cities, with limited exposure to general practice and visibility of general practice role models, which are known to be important influences on speciality decision‐making 30–32 . Student interviews were consistent with this finding:So, like at JCU [James Cook University], we have a lot of general practitioners as our sort of clinical coaches in years 4 and 5 and I think that helps because you hear about their cases … they have such good GPs as our clinical coaches (student1)…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…However, only relatively modest proportions (~15%) of final‐year Australian medical students have a first preference for a career in general practice, suggesting that experiences during medical school are failing to inspire sufficient numbers to choose general practice 29 . Specific experiences of a speciality as a medical student and general medical school experiences both have strong influences on students' speciality preferences 28–30 . Nationally, medical students train predominantly in acute care settings and in cities, with limited exposure to general practice and visibility of general practice role models, which are known to be important influences on speciality decision‐making 30–32 .…”
ObjectiveGP vocational training enrolments are declining Australia‐wide and, in the Northern Territory (NT), considered by some as ‘…the litmus test for the national scene’ the decline is precipitous. This research investigates the drivers of declining GP training uptake in the NT and identifies and ranks potential solutions.SettingNT, Australia.ParticipantsTen senior medical students, 6 junior doctors, 11 GP registrars, 11 GP supervisors and 31 stakeholders.DesignMixed methods: scoping review of Australian literature mapping key concepts to GP training pathway stages and marketing/communications; secondary data analyses; key informant interviews; and a stakeholder validation/prioritisation workshop. Interview data were thematically analysed. Workshop participants received summarised study findings and participated in structured discussions of potential solutions prior to nominating top five strategies in each of five categories.ResultsHighly prioritised strategies included increasing prevocational training opportunities in primary care and selecting junior doctors interested in rural generalism and long‐term NT practice. Also ranked highly were: [Medical School] ensuring adequate infrastructure; [Vocational Training] offering high quality, culturally sensitive, flexible professional and personal support; [General Practice] better remunerating GPs; and [Marketing] ensuring positive aspects such as diversity of experiences and expedited GP career opportunities were promoted.ConclusionMultifaceted strategies to increase GP training uptake are needed, which target different stages of GP training. Effective action is likely to require multiple strategies with coordinated action by different jurisdictional and national key stakeholder agencies. Foremost amongst the interventions required is the urgent need to expand primary care training opportunities in NT for prevocational doctors.
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