General practice training in Scotland: the views of GP trainers and educators

Abstract

What is already known in this areaAt present, training does not equip all GPs to be confident independent practitioners.Fewer medical students and newly qualified doctors envisage a career in general practice. There is much discussion about lengthening GP training and situating it more in general practice.Extended GP training pilots have been well received.What this Study addsGP trainers and educators in Scotland considered that training had changed in recent years with more workload related to assessment.There is a consensus that training should be longer and based in general practices.Trainees should have time to experience different types of general practice and to gain further and wider skills and knowledge.GPs have diverse careers, and training and career advice needs to recognise this.Suggestions for future work or researchLongitudinal and qualitative studies of extended training programmes would evaluate the recommendations suggested by this study.It would be useful to evaluate programmes where trainees spent the majority of their time in general practice, and those where trainees were placed in contrasting practices.