'Ending up a GP': a qualitative study of junior doctors' perceptions of general practice as a career

Abstract

Junior doctors' perceptions of general practice are expressions of a hospital-centric culture. Criteria for career choice are diffuse and complex. There was no evidence that the 1990 GP Contract deterred recruitment. The compromise between intrinsic satisfaction and lifestyle may be significant for GP morale.

Motivation and satisfaction in GP training: a UK cross-sectional survey

“…The importance of lifestyle factors has been highlighted previously 2,13,15 but not as the main motivator for this career choice. A 1995 survey of GP registrars found that 91% considered having time for leisure activities to be an important factor when choosing a future career, and that 72% would have been glad to remove the requirement for 24-hour patient cover.…”

“…2,13,14 Interviews with junior doctors in 1997 revealed a perception that general practice had inferior clinical content but a superior lifestyle to hospital medicine; as such, choosing general practice as a career was often based on negative judgements. 2 This finding differs from the current results, which show that negative reasons for choosing general practice are relevant to only a minority of current trainees and newly qualified GPs.…”

“…1 Many choose general practice as a career, but for various reasons. 2,3 With the specialty being negatively portrayed, recruitment to general practice has, at times, been difficult. Choosing a career in general practice may occur for lifestyle, rather than professional aspirations.…”

“…Choosing a career in general practice may occur for lifestyle, rather than professional aspirations. 2,3 A survey of UK medical graduates of 2002 showed that only 22.7% expressed a preference for a long-term career in general practice, fewer than in previous years, 4 despite the fact that around 50% of UK medical graduates will become GPs. 5 Similar findings were shown in a recent survey of 1780 medical students in France, in which only 20% expressed an interest in general practice.…”

Not such friendly banter? GPs and psychiatrists against the systematic denigration of their specialties

“…3,4 This must be replaced by respect and understanding throughout medicine that all specialties are important, that all specialties have their own set of skills and values, and that the NHS will only function properly when we have sufficient numbers of doctors practising all specialties.…”