Impact of Master of Family Medicine degree by distance learning on general practitioners' career options

Figures & data

Table

Practice points
•Academic general practice needs to be fostered.
•Encouraging general practitioners to undertake higher degrees might help achieve this.
•Degrees includes masters by distance education.
•These can be either clinical or research masters.

Table 1.  Characteristics of respondents (Clinical and Research Masters)

	Clinical Masters	% of Clinical respondents^1	Research Masters	% of Research respondents
Course Type	102	(100)	28	(100)
Gender
Male	61	(59.8)	19	(67.9)
Female	41	(40.2)	9	(32.1)
Age
25–29	1	(1.0)	0	(0)
30–40	20	(19.6)	0	(0.0)
41–50	45	(44.1)	16	(57.1)
51–60	32	(31.4)	9	(32.1)
Over 61	4	(3.9)	3	(10.7)
Country of residence
Australia	64	(62.7)	22	(78.6)
Hong Kong	25	(24.5)	1	(3.6)
UAE	3	(2.9)	1	(3.6)
Other	10	(9.8)	4	(14.3)
Location of work
Metropolitan	68	(67.3)	20	(71.4)
Other	33	(32.7)	8	(28.6)
GP practice size
solo	21	(22.1)	6	(22.2)
2–4	39	(41.1)	6	(22.2)
5 or more	31	(32.6)	13	(48.1)
Not applicable	4	(4.2)	2	(7.4)
Practice position
Principal/associate	60	(60.6)	18	(66.7)
Assistant/salaried	25	(25.3)	4	(14.8)
Other	8	(8.1)	3	(11.1)
Not applicable	6	(6.1)	2	(7.4)
Involvement in professional organisations^2
Academic GP	27	(14.7)	15	(27.3)
Division of General Practice	50	(27.2)	16	(29.1)
Medico-political	7	(3.8)	2	(3.6)
College of GPs	57	(31)	16	(29.1)
Government	18	(9.8)	3	(5.5)
Other	25	(13.6)	3	(5.5)
Where they work (full-time)^2
General practice	62	(82.7)	12	(70.6)
Hospital practice	5	(6.7)	2	(11.8)
Non-clinical (e.g. government)	1	(1.3)	1	(5.9)
Other	7	(9.3)	2	(11.8)
Where they work (part-time)^2
General practice	22	(47.8)	9	(47.4)
Hospital practice	10	(21.7)	1	(5.3)
Non-clinical (e.g. government)	1	(2.2)	2	(10.5)
Other	13	(28.3)	7	(36.8)

¹Percentages are rounded to first decimal point and refer to valid responses only.

²Multiple responses allowed.

Table 2.  Reasons for undertaking the Masters course

Reasons for undertaking the course^1	Clinical Masters	% of responses by Clinical group^2	Research Masters	% of responses by Research group
Clinical knowledge	91	(26.1)	19	(21.8)
Career change	20	(5.7)	7	(8)
Self development	89	(25.6)	25	(28.7)
Patient care	78	(22.4)	16	(18.4)
Fulfil medical education requirements	29	(8.33)	5	(5.7)
Academia	28	(8)	13	(14.9)
Promotion	3	(0.9)	0	(0)
Other	10	(2.9)	2	(2.3)

¹Multiple responses allowed.

²Percentages are rounded to first decimal point and refer to valid responses only.

Table 3.  Attitudes to the Masters in Family Medicine course

Attitudes	Completely disagree (valid%)	Disagree somewhat (valid%)	Agree somewhat (valid%)	Completely agree (valid%)
The course has taught me useful academic skills
Clinical Masters	1 (1.0)	2 (2.0)	48 (48.0)	49 (49.0)
Research Masters	0 (0)	1 (3.6)	9 (32.1)	18 (64.3)
The course has enhanced my career opportunities
Clinical Masters	10 (10.3)	24 (24.7)	49 (50.5)	14 (14.4)
Research Masters	3 (10.7)	2 (7.1)	16 (57.1)	7 (25.0)
The course assisted me in taking a greater leadership  role within my profession
Clinical Masters	12 (12.5)	30 (31.3)	35 (36.5)	19 (19.8)
Research Masters	3 (10.7)	6 (21.4)	11 (39.3)	8 (28.6)
The course taught me useful clinical skills
Clinical Masters	0 (0)	10 (10.0)	48 (48.0)	42 (42.0)
Research Masters	3 (11.5)	2 (7.7)	11 (42.3)	10 (38.5)
The course increased my interest in pursuing other  formal studies (excluding a doctorate).
Clinical Masters	6 (6.4)	21 (22.3)	46 (48.9)	21 (22.3)
Research Masters	1 (3.7)	6 (22.2)	11 (40.7)	9 (33.3)
The course increased my interest in pursuing a higher degree (i.e. a doctorate – MD or PhD)
Clinical Masters	14 (14.6)	34 (35.4)	39 (40.6)	9 (9.4)
Research Masters	3 (11.1)	5 (18.5)	10 (37.0)	9 (33.3)
The course increased my interest in research in general practice
Clinical Masters	8 (8.2)	26 (26.8)	47 (48.5)	16 (16.5)
Research Masters	0 (0)	2 (7.1)	12 (42.9)	14 (50.0)
The course increased my interest in publishing academic papers
Clinical Masters	19 (19.6)	42 (43.3)	26 (26.8)	10 (10.3)
Research Masters	1 (3.6)	6 (21.4)	11 (39.3)	10 (35.7)
The course increased my interest in applying for research grants
Clinical Masters	28 (29.2)	48 (50.0)	16 (16.7)	4 (4.2)
Research Masters	3 (11.5)	9 (34.6)	10 (38.5)	4 (15.4)
The course increased my understanding of the science of medicine
Clinical Masters	1 (1)	7 (7.1)	48 (48.5)	43 (43.4)
Research Masters	0 (0)	4 (14.3)	12 (42.9)	12 (42.9)
The course increased my understanding of the academic  foundations of general practice
Clinical Masters	1 (1.0)	2 (2.0)	26 (26.3)	70 (70.7)
Research Masters	0 (0)	0 (0)	11 (39.3)	17 (60.7)
The course increased my understanding of the dynamics of  the consultation in general practice
Clinical Masters	2 (2.1)	3 (3.1)	41 (42.3)	51 (52.6)
Research Masters	1 (3.6)	4 (14.3)	14 (50.0)	9 (32.1)
The course increased my understanding of the health care system
Clinical Masters	8 (8.1)	20 (20.2)	53 (53.5)	18 (18.2)
Research Masters	1 (3.6)	6 (21.4)	14 (50.0)	7 (25.0)

Table 4.  Other beliefs about the Masters course

Attitudes	Completely disagree (valid%)	Disagree somewhat (valid%)	Agree somewhat (valid%)	Completely agree (valid%)	Not applicable (valid%)
I have modified my approach to patient 1care as a result of the course
Clinical Masters	1 (1.0)	3 (3.0)	43 (42.6)	52 (51.5)	2 (2.0)
Research Masters	1 (3.6)	3 (10.7)	14 (50.0)	9 (32.1)	1 (3.6)
I have felt more satisfied with my clinical work as a result of the course
Clinical Masters	0 (0)	4 (4.0)	33 (33.0)	62 (62.0)	1 (1.0)
Research Masters	1 (3.7)	5 (18.5)	9 (33.3)	11 (40.7)	1 (3.7)
I have felt more satisfied in doing research as a result of the course
Clinical Masters	5 (5.1)	26 (26.3)	40 (40.4)	16 (16.2)	12 (12.1)
Research Masters	1 (3.6)	4 (14.3)	10 (35.7)	11 (39.3)	2 (7.1)
I have felt more satisfied with my academic work as a result of the course
Clinical Masters	5 (5.0)	11 (11.0)	42 (42.0)	35 (35.0)	7 (7.0)
Research Masters	1 (3.6)	1 (3.6)	15 (53.6)	9 (32.1)	2 (7.0)
I have considered leaving the medical profession as a result of the course
Clinical Masters	79 (78.2)	11 (10.9)	3 (3.0)	3 (3.0)	5 (5.0)
Research Masters	22 (78.6)	3 (10.7)	2 (7.1)	0 (0)	1 (3.6)

Table 5.  Pre- and post-graduate professional activities (achievements)

	Clinical Masters		Research Masters
Attitudes	Before degree (valid%)^1	After degree (valid%)	Before (valid%)	After degree (valid%)
Have you been employed in a non-clinical position?
Yes	24 (25.0)	36 (38.3)	14 (51.9)	7 (70.8)
No	72 (75.0)	58 (61.7)	13 (48.1)	7 (29.2)
If yes, was it at^2
A university	11 (55.0)	25 (89.3)	7 (50.0)	16 (88.9)
A college	10 (55.6)	3 (18.8)	2 (20.0)	7 (58.3)
DGP	9 (52.9)	15 (71.4)	3 (30.0)	8 (72.7)
Government	7 (46.7)	10 (52.6)	0 (0)	1 (14.3)
Other	4 (44.4)	9 (69.2)	2 (50.0)	2 (50.0)
How many research projects have you completed?
0	73 (75.3)	58 (67.4)	17 (65.4)	4 (16.7)
1	10 (10.3)	16 (18.6)	5 (19.2)	8 (33.3)
2–3	9 (9.3)	9 (10.5)	4 (15.4)	5 (20.8)
Over 3	5 (5.2)	3 (3.5)	0 (0)	7 (29.2)
How many research grants have you received?
0	89 (95.7)	77 (91.7)	21 (75.0)	13 (54.2)
1	2 (2.2)	3 (3.6)	1 (3.6)	6 (25.0)
2–3	1 (1.1)	2 (2.4)	0 (0)	0
Over 3	1 (1.1)	2 (2.0)	1 (3.6)	5 (20.8)
How many publications in refereed journals have you had?
0	78 (83.0)	70 (82.4)	13 (56.5)	8 (32.0)
1	7 (7.4)	3 (3.5)	4 (17.4)	7 (28.0)
2–3	4 (4.3)	7 (8.2)	5 (21.7)	3 (12.0)
Over 3	5 (5.3)	5 (5.9)	1 (4.3)	7 (28.0)
How many conference presentations have you made?
0	67 (73.6)	51 (58.6)	16 (69.6)	9 (36.0)
1	6 (6.6)	11 (12.6)	2 (8.7)	1 (4.0)
2–3	9 (9.9)	10 (11.5)	4 (17.4)	4 (16.0)
Over 3	9 (9.9)	15 (17.2)	1 (4.3)	11 (44.0)

¹Percentages are rounded to first decimal point and refer to valid responses only.

²Multiple responses allowed.