Factors associated with general practice specialty training satisfaction - results from the Finnish Physician Study

In Finland, achieving licensure as a specialist in general practice takes six years, with four years of training in primary care. Usually training arrangements are evaluated by trainees and their trainers. In this study the opinions of licensed GPs with experience of working in practice were specifically addressed. Our aim was to evaluate Finnish general practitioners' satisfaction with their specialty training and with the training programme. Correlations between these evaluations were investigated using logistic regression analyses. Participants comprised 416 GPs and 131 GP trainees, who responded to the Finnish Physician 2008 Study (response rate 53.7%). The respondents were asked how satisfied they were with their own specialty training in general, how satisfied they were with 12 items in their specialty training programme, and how well specialty training matched the requirements of GP work. Two-thirds of GPs and GP trainees were satisfied with their specialty training. Almost three in four felt that GP training succeeded in matching the requirements of work in general practice. Good ratings of diagnostic skill learning during GP training were predictive of overall training satisfaction. Clinical training relevant to GP work is the key element in ensuring satisfaction with general practice specialty training. The views of qualified GPs with experience gained in work provide a valuable addition to the total transformational quality management of GP training.