Addressing the decline in medical students specialising in general practice requires student and GP involvement, writes Kei Hsieh, National Chair, General Practice Students Network.
One of the biggest questions medical students ask themselves throughout their training is: “What type of doctor will I be?”
While some students enter medical school with a clear vision of their future specialty, for most this decision is something we explore throughout our training.
However, the latest National Data Report by the Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand highlights a worrying trend – fewer students are choosing general practice as their preferred career.
In 2023, only 10.5% of final-year medical students selected general practice as their first-choice specialty, down from 13% the previous year.
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Adding to this challenge, the RACGP reports that 32% of the current GP workforce intends to retire within the next five years, further worsening the GP shortage.
This raises a critical question – why are fewer medical students choosing general practice, and what needs to change to reverse this trend?
Barriers to general practice
Despite being the cornerstone of Australia’s healthcare system, general practice remains undervalued and underrepresented in medical training.
Medical students receive limited and often delayed exposure to the specialty, with GP placements typically occurring later in their studies, by which time many have already developed preferences for other specialties.
These placements are often brief and offer only a superficial glimpse into the breadth and complexity of general practice. In contrast, hospital rotations are longer and more immersive, exposing students to a broader range of complex cases.
This imbalance skews perceptions, leading many to overlook the intellectual challenge, diversity, and impact of general practice. Therefore, given that most healthcare is delivered in the community, should undergraduate medical training be restructured to better reflect this reality?
Solutions – quality placements
Simply increasing the number of GP placement days is not enough. The quality of teaching and student involvement during these placements is equally important.
Medical students want to actively participate in consultations but also be part of the broader aspects of community healthcare. To provide a comprehensive understanding of primary care, we encourage GP practices to offer students opportunities to work alongside nurses, administrative staff, and allied health professionals, gaining insight into the full scope of community-based healthcare.
Tips to improve medical student engagement in general practice:
- Earlier GP placements: Introducing GP rotations in the early years of medical school would allow students to explore general practice before forming biases toward hospital-based specialties.
- Enhanced student involvement: Placements should encourage active participation in patient care, including procedural skills and patient communication, rather than limiting students to passive observation.
- Funded holiday placements: Providing opportunities for students to undertake holiday placements in GP clinics would give them additional clinical exposure and insights into the day-to-day realities of general practice.
The General Practice Student Network
The General Practice Students Network is a national, student-led organisation connecting more than 5,000 medical students across more than 20 Australian medical schools.
The Network is one of a kind in the world. As a grassroots initiative, it fosters peer-to-peer learning and direct engagement with practising GPs and pre-vocational doctors to inspire and support the next generation of general practitioners.
Local clubs host various events to prepare students for GP placements. The events range from hands-on workshops that build essential clinical skills, such as suturing, injections, and breaking bad news training, to career nights where students gain unfiltered insights into GP training pathways.
These events offer unique insights into training pathways, professional development, and diverse opportunities within general practice. They also serve as valuable networking opportunities, helping students connect with mentors to maximise their GP placement experience.
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Mentorship is a key focus, bridging the gap between students and GPs at various career stages. Events like GP speaker nights, networking speed-dating, and registrar rounds connect students with consultants, registrars, and pre-vocational doctors who share career advice.
Studies by the RACGP underscore the power of near-peer mentoring, where students benefit from guidance from those just ahead of them in training.
The future
Reversing the declining interest in general practice requires systemic changes, including earlier and higher-quality GP placements, increased student involvement, and financial support for additional training opportunities.
This approach ensures that medical students are well-prepared to maximise their GP placements.
By advocating for and facilitating these experiences, the GPSN hopes to play a crucial role in shaping the future of Australia’s GP workforce. Together, these changes are key to securing Australia’s future GPs.
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