title: General practitioners' perspectives on revised entry and selection methods to medicine and the HPAT.
abstract: Revised selection mechanisms to medicine now include an adjunct admission test known as the HPAT. Stakeholder acceptability is a key issue. General Practitioners (GPs) represent an important stakeholder group. A questionnaire was administered to a regional sample of GPs evaluating their knowledge of the new selection system, views on acceptability, performance on sample HPAT questions and perceptions of their relevance. 92 respondents (75.4%) reported they had little or no knowledge of the HPAT. GPs supported the use of aptitude tests (85 respondents 69.7%). However almost one third (39 respondents, 32%) either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the reforms introduced. The majority strongly supported the Leaving Certificate as a selection tool (118 respondents, 96.7%). GPs performed well in the sample questions. Items from Section 2, measuring interpersonal understanding, were judged to be the most relevant.
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Unit, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dennehy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Flynn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003099:College Admission Test; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000592:standards*