Becoming a general practitioner

Becoming a general practitioner is too much a matter of chance. The curriculum 'walks in through the door'. This is informal and unlikely to be comprehensive. Cognitive, not behavioural skills predominate. Many tutors have little or no grounding in adult education. The career intentions of trainees tend to be overshadowed by their immediate service role. This essay explores the integrated structure of general practice training. The author draws on his experience of 10 years as tutor in Sydney suburban and Tasmanian country practice, and now as State Director of training. He is a student in the University Centre for Education. Four essentials to be considered are: a highly motivated vocational trainee, a comprehensive negotiated curriculum emphasizing behaviour, a wealth of selected experience in refined training positions, and skilled tutors. The essay makes no attempt at an exhaustive analysis of becoming a general practitioner. The purpose is to address these critical features of training, and to argue for an approach in tune with the trainee's vision; comprehensive, valid and reliable; not a matter of chance.