title: Student-centred GP ambassadors: Perceptions of experienced clinical tutors in general practice undergraduate training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore experienced general practitioner (GP) tutor perceptions of a skilled GP tutor of medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interview study based on focus groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty GPs experienced in tutoring medical students at primary health care centres in two Swedish regions were interviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four focus-group interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty GP tutors, median age 50, specifically selected according to age, gender, and location participated in two focus groups in Gothenburg and Malmö, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meaning units in the texts were extracted, coded and condensed into categories and themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main themes emerged: "Professional as GP and ambassador to general practice", "Committed and student-centred educator", and "Coordinator of the learning environment".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experienced GP tutors describe their skills as a clinical tutor as complex and diversified. A strong professional identity within general practice is vital and GP tutors describe themselves as ambassadors to general practice, essential to the process of recruiting a new generation of general practitioners. Leaders of clinical education and health care planners must understand the complexity in a clinical tutor's assignment and provide adequate support, time, and resources in order to facilitate a sustainable tutorship and a good learning environment, which could also improve the necessary recruitment of future GPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Von Below
authors.forename: Ann-Christin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Haffling
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brorsson
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mattsson
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wahlqvist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011231:Preceptorship; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013337:Students, Medical; D013548:Sweden; D013663:Teaching
keywords: Clinical clerkship; Sweden; education; general practice; general practitioners; medical; preceptorship; students; undergraduate