Images of general practice: the perceptions of the doctor

During the post second world war period there has been considerable discussion both within and outside the medical profession about what the role of the general practitioner should be. This study, drawing on data gathered from a national representative sample of general practitioners in England and Wales, explores general practitioners' own perceptions of their work role. The evidence shows that general practitioners might be divided into those who see a broad role for the general practitioner and place emphasis on the social aspects of care, and those who see a more traditional role for the general practitioner focusing specifically on organic illness. Those with a social orientation were also more likely to doubt the value of financial incentives, whereas the medical oriented doctors were more likely to say that their behaviour was influenced by financial incentives. The analysis also showed that the medically oriented were distinctly different to those with a social orientation in terms of personal characteristics and the setting in which they worked. The implications of these findings are discussed in full.