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. 1995 May 20;310(6990):1301–1304. doi: 10.1136/bmj.310.6990.1301

GPs in principle but not in practice: a study of vocationally trained doctors not currently working as principals.

M Baker 1, J Williams 1, R Petchey 1
PMCID: PMC2549680  PMID: 7773045

Abstract

OBJECTIVES--To identify doctors who are vocationally trained but not currently practising as principals in general practice; their reasons for not practising as principals; and whether the prospect of a re-entry course would appear to this group. DESIGN--Postal questionnaire survey based on semistructured interviews. SUBJECTS--Doctors who had been vocationally trained but were not currently practising as principals: 351 possible subjects identified by a process of "networking." SETTING--Trent Regional Health Authority. RESULTS--166 of the doctors who replied fitted the criteria (100 women; 66 men). The out of hours commitment was ranked as the most important factor for not practising as a principal--95 women and 50 men rated it important--followed by difficulty in combining work with family commitments--84 women, 31 men. 82 respondents (49%) said they would be interested in a re-entry course if one were available. CONCLUSIONS--There is a pool of vocationally trained doctors in Trent region who are not practising as principals in general practice. More flexible working patterns and the availability of a re-entry course could make the post of principal in general practice a more attractive proposition to these doctors.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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