title: General practitioners' views on leadership roles and challenges in primary health care: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore general practitioners' (GPs) views on leadership roles and leadership challenges in general practice and primary health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted focus groups (FGs) with 17 GPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Norwegian primary health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  17 GPs who attended a 5 d course on leadership in primary health care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study suggests that the GPs experience a need for more preparation and formal training for the leadership role, and that they experienced tensions between the clinical and leadership role. GPs recognized the need to take on leadership roles in primary care, but their lack of leadership training and credentials, and the way in which their practices were organized and financed were barriers towards their involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GPs experience tensions between the clinical and leadership role and note a lack of leadership training and awareness. There is a need for a more structured educational and career path for GPs, in which doctors are offered training and preparation in advance. KEY POINTS Little is known about doctors' experiences and views about leadership in general practice and primary health care. Our study suggests that: There is a lack of preparation and formal training for the leadership role. GPs experience tensions between the clinical and leadership role. GPs recognize leadership challenges at a system level and that doctors should take on leadership roles in primary health care.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health Management and Health Economics , Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Spehar
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health Management and Health Economics , Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Hege
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sjøvik
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health Management and Health Economics , Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Knut Ivar
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Karevold
authors.affiliation: b Department of General Practice , Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Elin Olaug
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Rosvold
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health Management and Health Economics , Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Jan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Frich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001364:Awareness; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D058006:General Practice; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: General practitioners; Norway; general practice; leadership; primary health care