Early clerkship in general practice - A qualitative study of medical students' experiences
Author
Weber, Marlène Isabelle
Term
5. Term (Master thesis)
Education
Publication year
2021
Pages
13
Abstract
Background: Recruiting medical students to general practice has become increasingly difficult. Early clerkships may shape students’ views of the specialty, but this link is less explored. Aim: To examine how experiences from an early general practice clerkship affect medical students’ perceptions of general practice work. Method: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with fourth-year medical students at Aalborg University after their first general practice clerkship (seven interviews) and analyzed using Malterud’s systematic text condensation. Results: Three main themes emerged: perceptions of GPs’ work, the professional life of the GP, and the GP–patient relationship. Students were notably surprised by the extent of mental health presentations, having expected mostly somatic conditions. They perceived GPs as having greater control over scheduling and work–life balance than hospital doctors, and they valued the continuity of care. Conclusion: The early clerkship did not by itself lead students to choose general practice, but it increased familiarity with the specialty, prompted consideration of it as a career, and provided insight into daily work. Early exposure therefore has the potential to help attract students to general practice.
Baggrund: Det er blevet stadig sværere at rekruttere medicinstuderende til almen praksis. Tidlige klinikophold kan påvirke de studerendes opfattelser af faget, men denne sammenhæng er mindre belyst. Formål: At undersøge, hvordan erfaringer fra et tidligt klinikophold i almen praksis påvirker medicinstuderendes opfattelse af almen praksis-arbejdet. Metode: Semistrukturerede individuelle interviews blev gennemført med fjerdeårs medicinstuderende fra Aalborg Universitet efter deres første klinikophold i almen praksis (syv interviews) og analyseret ved systematisk tekstkondensering (Malterud). Resultater: Analysen pegede på tre hovedtemaer: opfattelsen af almen praksis-arbejdet, den praktiserende læges professionelle liv og relationen mellem læge og patient. De studerende blev særligt overrasket over omfanget af psykiatriske problemstillinger i almen praksis, da de forventede mest somatiske tilstande. De oplevede, at praktiserende læger har større mulighed for at planlægge deres arbejde og opnå en bedre balance end hospitalslæger, og de værdsatte kontinuiteten i patientforløb. Konklusion: Det tidlige klinikophold førte ikke i sig selv til, at de studerende valgte almen praksis, men det øgede deres kendskab til faget, fik dem til at overveje det som karriere og gav indblik i arbejdslivet. Tidlig eksponering kan derfor potentielt bidrage til at tiltrække flere studerende til almen praksis.
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