Key writings in GP specialist training in Ireland

Key writings are those texts which represent a timeless contribution to the academic basis of general practice. We surveyed the 14 GP Specialist Training Programmes in Ireland and undertook focus group interviews with teachers and trainees in order to understand the extent to which such texts are currently used and whether they are valued in teaching. Our results indicate that traditional reading lists are not common in Irish GP training, that there are many barriers to trainees engaging with such literature but that both teachers and trainees see merit in providing access to a body of key writings. We suggest how this might be undertaken.