BJGP Open最新文献

{"title":"Findings from the development of a novel course of both group and individual alexander technique lessons for neck, hip and knee pain.","authors":"Joseph Little, Adam Geraghty, Carolyn Nicholls, Paul Little","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0295","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0295","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Musculoskeletal pain, often affecting multiple sites - including neck, hip and knee - is common, with limited treatment options. Novel treatments are needed to support self-management, preferably addressing multiple pain sites.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To develop and explore the acceptability of a short, mixed course of individual (1:1) and group lessons in the Alexander Technique (AT), which addresses dysfunctional use of the musculoskeletal system.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Single centre, mixed methods.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Patients with chronic or recurrent neck, hip or knee pain from 4 GP practices.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Preliminary development of a course of 10 AT lessons (6 group, 4 individual). Semi-structured interviews of participants analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Descriptive pre-post analysis of quantitative scales (Numerical pain scale (NRS); modified RMDQ (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire); enablement; and global improvement).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>25 participants were included, 19 were interviewed. Commonly participants found the mixture of group and individual lessons helpful, including helping multiple pain sites, and the mix of different problems enhanced learning. There was moderate improvement standard quantitative measures over 12 weeks (NRS from 5.15 to 3.85 by 12 weeks; modified RMDQ 8.26 to 5.7) but with more substantial improvement in enablement and global improvement. Those who perceived underlying structural damage to the knee reported little benefit.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>People with chronic or recurrent neck, hip or knee pain found a course of mixed group and individual lessons in AT helpful in managing their pain, but not those with severe knee problems. Whether standard quantitative measures provide the best measures of effectiveness requires exploration.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144064837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Podcasting in primary care: attitudes of Scottish GP specialty trainees and trainers towards podcast-based education in primary care.","authors":"Callum J Leese, Varun Rana, Blair Smith","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0248","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Podcasts are rapidly gaining popularity within medical education, but their acceptability and effectiveness within primary care education remains understudied.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the attitudes of General Practitioner Specialty Trainees (GPSTs) and GP Trainers towards audio podcasts for primary care medical education.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>A cross-sectional questionnaire distributed to all GPSTs and GP Trainers in Scotland.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The survey evaluated podcast usage patterns, their perceived effectiveness, and perspectives on the benefits and challenges of podcast-based education. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 1995 invited participants, 219 individuals (11.0%) responded. Medical education podcasts were used by 69.9% of respondents, with higher usage among GPSTs (73.5%) than GP Trainers (65.7%). Most respondents (89%) perceived podcasts as an effective medium for primary care education. The majority of respondents noted improvements in professional knowledge (92.8%), confidence in delivering patient care (73.5%), and clinical care provision (81.6%), as a result of podcast usage. Key benefits of podcasts included flexibility and accessibility, while the main challenge was personal time constraints. Respondents highlighted quality assurance and awareness as key areas for improving the experience of podcast-based education.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Podcasts are accepted and perceived as an effective educational tool within primary care education. Future efforts should focus on developing high-quality, relevant podcasts, and addressing concerns around personal time constraints and quality assurance. Further research, including larger, more representative samples, is needed to assess the impact of podcasts on knowledge retention, clinician behaviour and clinical outcomes within primary care.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144037645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quality indicators for lifestyle or behavioural management for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in primary care: a systematic review.","authors":"Kiran Bam, Beilei Lin, Muideen T Olaiya, Dominique A Cadilhac, Julie Redfern, Mark R Nelson, Lauren M Sanders, Nadine E Andrew, Vijaya Sundararajan, Lisa Murphy, Monique F Kilkenny","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2025.0018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Monitoring lifestyle or behavioural risk factors using quality indicators is critical for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To summarise indicators for monitoring lifestyle risk factors for the primary prevention of CVD.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>A systematic review of quality indicators in primary care.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Four research databases and grey literature were searched to identify articles (indicator sets) used to monitor lifestyle risk factors. Articles were assessed for methodological quality using the Appraisal of Indicators through Research and Evaluation instrument. Articles with strong methodological quality, scoring≥50% in each domain (ie, relevance, stakeholder involvement, scientific evidence, and usage) were included. Indicators were categorised into assessment of lifestyle risk factors or advice on healthy lifestyle.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 39/282 (14%) articles including indicators to monitor lifestyle risk factors from a full-text review. Of these,19/39 (49%) articles with strong methodological quality, comprising 90 unique indicators, were included. Most of the indicators were on assessing smoking status (21%), body weight (18%); advice on smoking cessation (13%), immunisation (9%), and advice on physical activity (8%). Assessment alcohol consumption (3%) and healthy eating (2%) were the least reported. When comparing assessment <i>vs</i>. advice indicators, we found gaps in monitoring smoking status (41% assessment <i>vs</i>. 27% advice) and body weight (35% <i>vs</i>.14%). Notably, there were more indicators for advice on (16%), than assessment of (4%) healthy eating.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We identified several indicators for the monitoring of lifestyle risk factors. However, there is a need to ensure an appropriate mix of indicators on assessment <i>vs</i>. advice.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144022753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patient perceptions of relational continuity in England: insights from two cross-sectional surveys.","authors":"Bolanle Odebiyi, Jonanthan Gibson, Mhorag Goff, Ali Mk Hindi, Jonathan Hammond, Katherine Checkland, Matt Sutton, Sally Jacobs","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0267","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0267","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Declining continuity of care in England could disproportionately affect some patient groups.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To examine patients' perceptions of continuity of primary care, identify factors associated with continuity, and measure changes in continuity of care for different patient groups following Primary Care Network (PCN) implementations.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Patients from three groups (older adults with polypharmacy, patients with mild/moderate anxiety or depression, and working-age adults (18-45 years) attending 19 practices in five PCNs surveyed at two time points (November 2021-April 2022, November 2022-April 2023).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Relational continuity was measured using the Nijmegen Continuity Questionnaire (NCQ) score. Differences between patient groups and two time points were tested using multiple linear regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Survey response rates were 362/1547 (23%) and 350/1528 (23%). Adults with polypharmacy experienced significantly better continuity than adults with anxiety/depression and younger working age adults after adjusting for PCN, practice and population level characteristics. Those who always/sometimes saw their preferred GP experienced significantly better continuity than those who never did. PCNs with pre-existing inter-practice collaborations were not associated with differences in relational continuity. Mean continuity did not change over time (2.93 (SD=0.08) versus 2.82 (0.07); difference=0.11, <i>P</i><0.28).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We found differences in experienced continuity of care between patient groups. Relational continuity depends on seeing a preferred GP, not a non-preferred GP or other healthcare professional. Better continuity was associated with larger practice networks.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143988283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recognition and management of acute functional decline in older people living in care homes: a qualitative interview study with UK care home staff.","authors":"Abigail Moore, Margaret Glogowska, Christopher Butler, Gail Hayward","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0252","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0252","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Older people living in care homes who experience acute functional decline pose a diagnostic challenge to GPs.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>We aimed to explore beliefs, practices and experiences of UK care home staff who first recognise and respond to acute functional decline, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Qualitative interview study with 25 UK care home staff.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Semi- structured interviews were conducted over the phone between January 2021 and April 2022. Thematic analysis was facilitated by NVivo software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Care home staff recognised acute functional decline as subtle changes from normal, which required knowing a resident well. However, it could be difficult to differentiate between an 'off day' and a more significant deviation, particularly for residents with a variable baseline. Acute functional decline caused anxiety to care home staff, in part due the uncertainty about illness trajectory and outcome. They commonly considered UTI a likely underlying cause. Some participants described a watch and wait approach or trying simple interventions, whilst others preferred escalating directly to outside clinical support. Triggers for escalation included perceived severity of illness, gut feeling or failure to respond to initial supportive management.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study has highlighted the complexities around the identification and management of a care home resident experiencing acute functional decline. There was variation in interpretation and responding to these episodes within the care home. More work is needed to understand the physiology and risk profiles of acute functional decline, as well as any relationship to UTI.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144031270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"General practice-related variation in oral anticoagulant treatment of atrial fibrillation: a nationwide cohort study.","authors":"Ina Grønkjær Laugesen, Claus Høstrup Vestergaard, Amanda Paust, Flemming Bro, Erik Lerkevang Grove, Anders Prior","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0197","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0197","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Guideline-adherent oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains a challenge. In Denmark, most patients with AF are treated in general practice. Nevertheless, determinants of OAC prescription in primary care are poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate variation in OAC treatment adherence between general practice clinics and to identify clinic characteristics associated with a lower propensity to prescribe OAC treatment.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Nationwide register-based cohort study including prevalent and incident patients with AF and CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ≥2 (<i>n</i> = 165 731) listed with Danish general practice clinics (<i>n</i> = 1666) in 2021.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The main outcome was OAC treatment adherence assessed as proportion of days covered (PDC). We used clinic OAC propensity to evaluate variation. OAC propensity was quantified as ratios between observed and expected adherence. Expected adherence was estimated based on the composition of the clinic patient populations. Sampled reference populations were constructed to account for random variation. Linear regression models examined associations between OAC propensity and clinic characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The PDC with OAC treatment in the AF population was 78%. OAC propensity in clinics in the 90^th percentile was 20% higher compared with clinics in the 10^th percentile; however, this difference was reduced to 3% when accounting for random variation. Modest associations were observed between clinic characteristics and OAC propensity. The most significant difference was in the correlation between geographic location and OAC propensity, showing an 8% gap between top and bottom-performing regions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study suggests persistent underutilisation of OAC treatment in patients with AF and little variation in OAC prescription patterns across general practice clinics.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Complex mental health difficulties in primary care: scoping review with thematic synthesis.","authors":"Kritica Dwivedi, Vyv Huddy, Phillip Oliver, Chris Burton","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0223","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0223","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Complex Mental Health Difficulties (CMHD) is an umbrella term for long-term problems with emotions and relationships, including personality disorders, persistent depression and consequences of trauma. People with CMHD often fall between NHS services that focus on either common mental disorders (anxiety, depression) or psychosis, leaving GPs as their main source of support.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To understand what is known about primary care for CMHD, from both GP and patient perspectives.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>We conducted a scoping review of GP and patient experiences of CMHD in primary care in UK, Europe, Australasia and North America.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We searched Medline, PsycInfo and Embase for eligible studies between January 2002-October 2023. Titles and full texts were screened by two reviewers. Thematic synthesis of qualitative studies and narrative synthesis of quantitative studies were undertaken.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We screened 2209 papers and 33 met inclusion criteria. Three key themes were found: the challenge of recognising CMHD, its impact on primary care workload, and patient priorities. GPs recognised CMHD through complexity of diagnoses, of psychosocial issues and of healthcare use. However, they were ambivalent about diagnosis and lacked the resources to make or discuss diagnoses. Working with people with CMHD involved responsibility work, relationship work, and emotional work, under pressured conditions. Patient priorities included addressing stigma, reducing fragmentation and receiving relationship-focused care.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This scoping review delineates the very real challenges people with CMHD and their GPs face in providing care. It helps set an agenda for work to address gaps in provision and improve outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144052077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring patients' and carers' experiences, understandings and expectations of COPD exacerbations:an interview study.","authors":"Ann Hutchinson, Richard Russell, Helena Cummings, Omar Usmani, Sarah MacFadyen, Judith Cohen, Tamsin Morris, Hana Muellerova, Yang Xu, Gary Hellens, Kay Roy, Michael G Crooks","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0026","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are clinically significant events that affect millions of people globally.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore patients' and carers' experiences, understanding, and expectations of, as well as their responses to, exacerbations.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Semi-structured interviews conducted with patients who have COPD and their carers from four sites across England.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of patients with COPD and their carers recruited from four sites in England: two in Yorkshire, one in Hampshire and one in London. Interviews were theoretically informed by the Breathing Space concept and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. This research is reported in line with the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty patient participants were recruited: 21 were female, 28 were White, with a mean age 69 years (standard deviation [SD] = 8.1 years), mean COPD duration = 11.3 years (SD = 8.3 years), median exacerbations in past year = 1.5 (range 0-9). Seven carer participants were recruited; of these, six were female and six were White. Three themes were identified: the language that clinicians use in COPD is important; episodes of symptom worsening have profound impacts on patients and carers; and patients' early experiences, including the responses of clinicians to their help-seeking, have a lasting effect on their behaviour. How patients respond to symptom worsening can be considered holistically in the context of the Breathing Space framework. Breathlessness affected all patient participants and was a key symptom that precipitated action.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings show how early help-seeking experiences shape later behaviour. Early emphasis on symptom management, preparation for exacerbations, and post-exacerbation reviews are practical ways that clinicians can support patients and carers to manage these events better. The Breathing Space concept provides a useful framework to identify needs and tailor COPD management appropriately.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142751903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical decision making and risk appraisal using electronic risk assessment tools for cancer diagnosis: a qualitative study of GP experiences.","authors":"Alex Burns, Emily Fletcher, Elizabeth Shephard, Raff Calitri, Mark Tarrant, Adrian Mercer, William Hamilton, Sarah Dean","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0243","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0243","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Electronic risk assessment tools (eRATs) are intended to improve early primary care cancer diagnosis. eRATs, which interrupt a consultation to suggest a possibility of a cancer diagnosis, could impact clinical appraisal and the experience of the consultation. This study explores this issue using data collected within the context of the Electronic RIsk-assessment for CAncer (ERICA) trial.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore views and experiences of GPs who used the ERICA eRATs, how the tools impacted their perception of risk and diagnostic thinking, and how this was communicated to patients.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>Qualitative interviews with GPs from English general practices undertaking the ERICA trial.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants were purposefully sampled from practices participating in the intervention arm of the ERICA trial. Eighteen GPs undertook semi-structured interviews via Microsoft Teams. Thematic analysis was used to explore their perspectives of the impact of the eRATs on consultations, diagnostic thinking related to cancer and other conditions, and how this information is communicated to patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The following three themes were developed: 1) the armoury, whereby eRATs were perceived as 'additional armour', offering a layer of protection against missing a cancer diagnosis, the defence coming at a cost of anxiety and complexity of consultation; 2) 'three heads' making a decision. eRATs were seen as another actor in the consultation, separate from clinician and patient, and challenging GP autonomy; and 3) for whom is the eRAT output intended? GPs were conflicted about whether the numerical eRAT outputs were helpful when communicating with patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>eRATs are appreciated as a defence against missing a cancer diagnosis. This defence comes at a cost and challenges GPs' freedom in communication and decision making.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142683010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors influencing medical students career intentions in Flanders, Estonia, and Hungary: a multivariable analysis.","authors":"Marta Velgan, Peter Vajer, Nele R Michels, Mart Einasto, Ruth Kalda","doi":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0087","DOIUrl":"10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The career decisions of medical students are pivotal in shaping the future healthcare workforce. In many countries, the number of medical students who choose general practice as their career is insufficient to meet the needs of the healthcare system.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To describe the factors influencing medical students' career intentions and their preference for a career in general practice.</p><p><strong>Design & setting: </strong>A cross-sectional study involving medical students from Flanders (Belgium), Estonia, and Hungary.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>An online questionnaire, which was sent to undergraduate medical students, was used to gather data. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Altogether 1601 medical students participated in this study, which found that 18.5% of the participants were interested in general practice. Factors related to medical students and the curriculum that predicted the interest in general practice were being a woman, being a medical student from Flanders, being a sixth-year medical student, coming from a rural area, and having GP role models. Students preferring general practice named the following factors as important: short and low-intensity training programme; having long-term and close relationship with patients; continuity of care; regular and flexible working hours; and opportunities to achieve work-life balance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study adds further evidence of which characteristics and factors can predict medical students' interest in general practice; having GP role models being the most important predictor. Further research into which qualities medical students value in their role models could give us better understanding on how we can support GPs to be better advocates for their specialty and thereby help increase interest in general practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":36541,"journal":{"name":"BJGP Open","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}