title: Influences on students' career decisions concerning general practice: a focus group study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite concerns about recruitment to UK general practice, there has been no concerted educational intervention to address them.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To better understand how medical students' perceptions of their experiences of their undergraduate curriculum may affect choosing general practice as a career.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study comprising focus groups of a total of 58 students from a range of medical schools across the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A range of UK medical schools students were invited by email to participate in focus groups and return a questionnaire detailing their current career choice to facilitate sampling students with varied career preferences. Students late in their studies were sampled as they were likely to be considering future careers. Focus group discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, and anonymised for both school and participant, then thematically analysed. Perceived differences in medical school culture, curriculum philosophy, design, and intent were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six focus groups (58 students) were convened. Some student participants' career aspirations were strongly shaped by family and home, but clinical placements remained important in confirming or refuting these choices. High-quality general practice attachments are a powerful attractor to general practice and, when they reflect authentic clinical practice, promote general practice careers. GP tutors can be powerful, positive role models. Students' comments revealed conflicting understandings about general practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attracting rather than coercing students to general practice is likely to be more effective at changing their career choices. Early, high-quality, ongoing and, authentic clinical exposure promotes general practice and combats negative stereotyping. It is recommended that increasing opportunities to help students understand what it means to be a 'good GP' and how this can be achieved are created.
authors: Head centre for medical education (acting), Institute of Health Sciences Education, Queen Mary University of London, London.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Nicholson
authors: Department of Medical and Social Care Education, University of Leicester, Leicester.
authors: Adrian Michael
authors: AM
authors: Hastings
authors: Professor of eduction in general practice, Keele University School of Medicine, Keele.
authors: Robert Kee
authors: RK
authors: McKinley
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003657:Decision Making; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D017144:Focus Groups; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013038:Specialization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: career choice; curriculum; general practice