title: GPs in principle but not in practice: a study of vocationally trained doctors not currently working as principals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify doctors who are vocationally trained but not currently practising as principals in general practice; their reasons for not practising as principals; and whether the prospect of a re-entry course would appear to this group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postal questionnaire survey based on semistructured interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Doctors who had been vocationally trained but were not currently practising as principals: 351 possible subjects identified by a process of "networking."
  
  
  METHODS
  Trent Regional Health Authority.
  
  
  RESULTS
  166 of the doctors who replied fitted the criteria (100 women; 66 men). The out of hours commitment was ranked as the most important factor for not practising as a principal--95 women and 50 men rated it important--followed by difficulty in combining work with family commitments--84 women, 31 men. 82 respondents (49%) said they would be interested in a re-entry course if one were available.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a pool of vocationally trained doctors in Trent region who are not practising as principals in general practice. More flexible working patterns and the availability of a re-entry course could make the post of principal in general practice a more attractive proposition to these doctors.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Postgraduate Dean, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petchey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires