open access publication

Article, 2024

Would you like to be a general practitioner? Baseline findings of a longitudinal survey among Danish medical trainees

BMC Medical Education, ISSN 1472-6920, Volume 24, 1, Page 111, 10.1186/s12909-024-05074-1

Contributors

Gjessing, Sofie 0000-0002-3748-7727 (Corresponding author) [1] Guldberg, Trine Lignell 0009-0000-8028-4573 [2] Risør, Torsten 0000-0002-2018-528X [3] [4] Skals, Regitze Gyldenholm 0000-0003-2560-4487 [2] Kristensen, Jette Kolding 0000-0002-2648-5750 [1]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Aalborg University
    2. [NORA names: AAU Aalborg University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  2. [2] Aalborg University Hospital
    3. [NORA names: North Denmark Region; Hospital; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  3. [3] UiT The Arctic University of Norway
    4. [NORA names: Norway; Europe, Non-EU; Nordic; OECD];
  4. [4] University of Copenhagen
    5. [NORA names: KU University of Copenhagen; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]

Abstract

BackgroundRecruiting and securing primary care physician workforce has been the center of international attention for decades. In Denmark, the number of general practitioners has decreased by 8.5% since 2013. However, a rising population age and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and multimorbidity place an even greater future need for general practitioners in Denmark. The choice of general practice as specialty has been associated with a range of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, however, few studies have examined the recruitment potential that lies within medical trainees’ who are undecided about general practice specialization. The aim of this study was, therefore, to explore how medical trainees who are undecided about general practice specialization (GP-positive/undecided) differ from medical trainees who are either committed (GP-committed) or not committed to a general practice career (GP-non-committed) regarding factors related to future work life.MethodsThe present study concerns baseline findings from a longitudinal survey study. An online questionnaire was e-mailed to a national cohort of medical trainees during their transition from under- to postgraduate education. The associations between orientations towards general practice specialization and work-related factors and potential influencing factors, respectively, were analyzed using uni- and multivariable modified Poisson regression models.ResultsOf 1,188 invited participants, 461 filled out key study variables concerning specialty preferences and rejections, corresponding to a response rate of 38.8%. We found significant positive associations between GP-positive/undecided orientation and valuing a good work/life balance and the opportunity to organize own working hours when compared to GP-non-committed respondents. Compared to the GP-committed orientations, the GP-positive/undecided orientation was associated with a positive attitude towards technology, working shift hours, and an openness towards several career paths. Across all orientations, undergraduate exposure to the specialties was found to be highly influential on the specialty preferences.ConclusionGP-positive/undecided medical trainees value autonomy over their working hours more than the GP-non-committed, but less than the GP-committed. However, the GP-positive/undecided respondents present more openness to different career opportunities and the use of technology in daily work. We suggest using this knowledge in the planning of recruitment strategies aiming to increase interest in general practice specialization.

Keywords

BackgroundRecruitment, Denmark, MethodsThe, MethodsThe present study, Poisson regression models, age, association, attention, attitudes, autonomy, balance, baseline, baseline findings, career, career opportunities, career paths, center, center of international attention, chronic diseases, decades, disease, e-mail, education, exposure, extrinsic factors, factors, findings, general practice, general practice careers, general practitioners, hours, increased prevalence, increasing interest, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, influencing factors, interest, international attention, invited participants, knowledge, life, longitudinal survey, longitudinal survey study, medical trainees, model, modified Poisson regression models, multimorbidity, multivariable modified Poisson regression models, national cohort, online questionnaire, opening, opportunities, orientation, participants, path, physician workforce, planning, population, population aging, positive association, positive attitudes, postgraduate, postgraduate education, potential, potential influencing factors, practice, practice careers, practice specialization, practitioners, preferences, present study, prevalence of chronic diseases, primary care physician workforce, questionnaire, rate, recruitment, recruitment potential, recruitment strategies, regression models, rejection, respondents, response, response rate, shift hours, specialization, specialty, specialty preferences, strategies, study, study variables, survey, survey study, technology, trainees, transition, undergraduate exposure, variables, work, work-related factors, work/life, work/life balance, workforce, working hours, working life

Data Provider: Digital Science

LINKS
-

Matching Records in NORA

SUBJECTS
+

METRICS
+