Experience with a general practice elective in the undergraduate curriculum

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• General Practice Training

Background:

• Introduction of electives into the sixth year of the medical curriculum.
• Need for enhanced general practice training experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• Describe an eight-week general practice elective course.
• Evaluate student and instructor opinions on the course.
• Assess the course's impact on medical students' perceptions of general practice.

Main Methods:

• An eight-week general practice elective was implemented.
• Seventy medical students and 50 clinical instructors provided feedback.
• Opinions were collected regarding the semistructured course format and content.

Main Results:

• The course received strongly favorable opinions from both students and instructors.
• Students were impressed by general practitioners' diagnostic and treatment skills.
• The majority found the experience rewarding and it positively shifted their view of general practice.

Conclusions:

• The general practice elective is a valuable educational experience.
• The course favorably impacts medical students' perceptions of general practice.
• Findings inform future medical education curriculum development in general practice.