Why do Danish junior doctors choose general practice as their future specialty? Results of a mixed-methods survey

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow diagram illustrating the educational career of Danish GPs.

Figure 2. Flow diagram demonstrating, recruitment and the distribution of responders’ vs non-responders’ university of graduation.

Table 1. Views on the training in general practice received at the different Danish universities^a.

Questions	Far too little	Too little	Appropriate	Too much	Far too much
1. Study impact	31.5% (206/655)	47.3% (310/655)	20.6% (136/655)	0.3% (2/655)	0.2% (1/655)
	Not relevant	Less relevant	Relevant	Very relevant
2. Relevance	3.7% (24/655)	36% (236/655)	52.1% (340/655)	8.2% (55/655)

Do the responders perceive the following conditions, extracted from the qualitative data in the prior focus-group interviews, as primarily advantageous or disadvantageous?

1. In your opinion, what is the impact of general practice, including its patients and problems, in the medical training at the university where you studied?

2. How relevant did you find the training in general practice compared to working in general practice?

^aResponders (655) from Danish universities. Responders from universities outside Denmark were excluded.

Table 2. Perception of central characteristics of overall working conditions in general practice

Questions	Primarily an advantage	Equal	Primarily a disadvantage
1. Small working place	75.5% (506/670)	22.4% (150/670)	2.1% (14/670)
2. Independence	54.9% (368/670)	37.5% (252/670)	7.5% (50/670)

Do responders perceive the following conditions, extracted from the qualitative data in the prior focus-group interviews, as primarily advantageous or disadvantageous?

1. General practice is typically a minor organization compared to a hospital department. How do you perceive this in relation to your choice of specialty?

2. As a GP, you are self-employed and responsible for management, organization of work, finance and yourself. How do you perceive this to your choice of specialty?

Table 3. Impact on choice of specialty of different main elements

Statements Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree or disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
1. Training programme	60.7% (407/670)	30.1% (202/670)	9.1% (61/670)	0.0% (0/670)	0.0% (0/670)
2. Patient-centred approach	69.4% (465/670)	24.5% (164/670)	6.1% (41/670)	0.0% (0/670)	0.0% (0/670)
3. Work as independent GP	51.6% (346/670)	30.4% (204/670)	1.9% (120/670)	0.0% (0/670)	0.0% (0/670)
4. GP in basic training^a	26.9% (167/620)	37.6% (233/620)	21.5% (133/620)	8.2% (51/620)	5.8% (36/620)

To what extent do the responders agree with the following statements extracted from the qualitative data in the prior focus-group interviews?

1. The quality of the postgraduate training programme in general practice influenced my choice of general practice as a specialty.

2. It is important that I, as a GP, work with a holistic and patient centred approach.

3. I have chosen the specialty because I intend to establish myself as GP in Denmark.

4. Early exposure to general practice in my postgraduate basic training had a significant impact on my decision to choose general practice as a specialty.

^a 50 trainees had no basic training in general practice.

GP, general practitioner.