Students learning medicine in general practice in Canada and Australia

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• General Practice Training

Background:

• Growing focus on general practice (GP) and general practitioners' (GPs) roles in undergraduate medical education over the last two decades.
• Increasing integration of primary care settings into medical curricula.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of medical students learning in general practice settings in Australia and Canada.
• To synthesize findings from medical education and general practice literature in both countries.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of general practice and medical education in Australia and Canada.
• Analysis of student, patient, and institutional experiences in GP settings.

Main Results:

• Substantial and growing evidence supports the positive value of general practice medical education for students, patients, communities, academic institutions, and GPs.
• Identified benefits across diverse stakeholders in Australian and Canadian primary care settings.

Conclusions:

• General practice-based medical education offers significant advantages.
• Further research is required on the spatial, temporal, and financial aspects of GP medical education.
• Potential exists for a national plan for GP medical education, supported by government investment and academic commitment.