title: Creating better doctors: exploring the value of learning medicine in primary care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Across the UK, 13% of undergraduate medical education is undertaken in primary care (PC). Students value their experiences in this setting but uncertainty remains about the extent to which these placements influence their future practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the impact of PC based undergraduate medical education on the development of medical students and new doctors as clinicians, and on students' preparedness for practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mixed method study across two UK medical schools. Focus groups and individual interviews with Year 5 medical students, Foundation Year 2 doctors and GP Specialty Trainees; online surveys of Year 5 medical students and Foundation Year 2 doctors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PC placements play an important part in the development of all 'apprentice' doctors, not just those wanting to become GPs. They provide a high quality learning environment, where students can: gradually take on responsibility; build confidence; develop empathy in their approach to patient care; and gain understanding of the social context of health and illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests that for these results to be achieved, PC placements have to be high quality, with strong links between practice-based learning and teaching/assessment in medical school. GP tutors need to be enthusiastic and students actively involved in consultations.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health Sciences , University of York , York , UK.|e Firefly Research & Evaluation , York , UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Newbronner
authors.affiliation: b South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust , Wakefield , UK.|e Firefly Research & Evaluation , York , UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borthwick
authors.affiliation: c Hull York Medical School , University of York , York , UK.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.affiliation: d School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health , University of Leeds , Leeds , UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scales
authors.affiliation: c Hull York Medical School , University of York , York , UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D017144:Focus Groups; D058006:General Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010820:Physicians; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013337:Students, Medical; D006113:United Kingdom; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: General practice; medical students; placements; primary care; undergraduate medical education