A qualitative study of medical students' attitudes to careers in general practice

Recruitment and retention in general practice is a national issue. We used two qualitative methods to examine the attitudes of final year medical students to general practice as a potential career. Although students considered experience of general practice during their clinical course as the most important influence, a good experience of the discipline is not enough in itself for students to commit to general practice as a career. Individual general practitioners (GPs) can have a significant impact on students' perception of general practice careers. A range of aspects was considered by students in respect of careers in general practice; aspects that encouraged some students towards general practice dissuaded others. Not all students were interested in holistic aspects of medicine.