Background: To be able to counter the increasing shortage of general practitioners (GPs) in many countries, it is crucial to remain up‑to‑date with the decisive reasons why young physicians choose or reject a career in this field. Materials and Methods: Qualitative content analysis was performed using data from a cross‑sectional survey among German medical graduates (n = 659, response rate = 64.2%). Subsequently, descriptive statistics was calculated. Results: The most frequent motives to have opted for a GP career were (n = 74/81): Desire for variety and change (62.2%), interest in a long‑term bio‑psycho‑social treatment of patients (52.7%), desire for independence and self‑determination (44.6%), positively perceived work‑life balance (27.0%), interest in contents of the field (12.2%), and reluctance to work in a hospital (12.2%). The most frequent motives to have dismissed the seriously considered idea of becoming a GP were (n = 207/578): Reluctance to establish a practice or perceived associated risks and impairments (33.8%), stronger preference for another field (19.3%), perception of workload being too heavy or an unfavorable work‑life balance (15.0%), perception of too low or inadequate earning opportunities (14.0%), perception of the GP as a \"distributor station\" with limited diagnostic and therapeutic facilities (11.6%), perception of too limited specialization or limited options for further sub‑specialization (10.6%), rejection of (psycho‑) social aspects and demands in general practice (9.7%), and perceived monotony (9.7%). Conclusion: While some motives appear to be hard to influence, others reveal starting points to counter the GP shortage, in particular, with regard to working conditions, the further academic establishment, and the external presentation of the specialty.

Objective: Because of the increasing shortage of general practitioners (GPs) in many countries, this study aimed to explore factors related to GP career choice in recent medical graduates. Particular focus was placed on the impact of specific practice-orientated GP courses at different stages of the medical undergraduate curriculum. Design: Observational study. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to reveal independent associations with career choice. Setting: Leipzig Medical School, Germany. Subjects: 659 graduates (response rate = 64.2%). Main outcome measure: Choice of general practice as a career. Results: Six student-associated variables were found to be independently related to choice of general practice as a career: age, having family or friends in general practice, consideration of a GP career at matriculation, preference for subsequent work in a rural or small-town area, valuing the ability to see a broad spectrum of patients, and valuing long-term doctor – patient relationships. Regarding the curriculum, after adjustment independent associations were found with a specifi c pre-clinical GP elective (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.3 – 5.3), a four-week GP clerkship during the clinical study section (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.3 – 5.0), and a four-month GP clinical rotation during the final year (OR = 10.7, 95% CI 4.3 – 26.7). It was also found that the work-related values of the female participants were more compatible with those of physicians who opt for a GP career than was the case for their male colleagues. Conclusion: These results support the suggestion that a practice-orientated GP curriculum in both the earlier and later stages of undergraduate medical education raises medical schools’ output of future GPs. The findings are of interest for medical schools (curriculum design, admission criteria), policy-makers, and GPs involved in undergraduate medical education. More research is needed on the effectiveness of specific educational interventions in promoting interest in general practice as a career.

Background: To be able to counter the increasing shortage of general practitioners (GPs) in many countries, it is crucial to remain up‑to‑date with the decisive reasons why young physicians choose or reject a career in this field. Materials and Methods: Qualitative content analysis was performed using data from a cross‑sectional survey among German medical graduates (n = 659, response rate = 64.2%). Subsequently, descriptive statistics was calculated. Results: The most frequent motives to have opted for a GP career were (n = 74/81): Desire for variety and change (62.2%), interest in a long‑term bio‑psycho‑social treatment of patients (52.7%), desire for independence and self‑determination (44.6%), positively perceived work‑life balance (27.0%), interest in contents of the field (12.2%), and reluctance to work in a hospital (12.2%). The most frequent motives to have dismissed the seriously considered idea of becoming a GP were (n = 207/578): Reluctance to establish a practice or perceived associated risks and impairments (33.8%), stronger preference for another field (19.3%), perception of workload being too heavy or an unfavorable work‑life balance (15.0%), perception of too low or inadequate earning opportunities (14.0%), perception of the GP as a \"distributor station\" with limited diagnostic and therapeutic facilities (11.6%), perception of too limited specialization or limited options for further sub‑specialization (10.6%), rejection of (psycho‑) social aspects and demands in general practice (9.7%), and perceived monotony (9.7%). Conclusion: While some motives appear to be hard to influence, others reveal starting points to counter the GP shortage, in particular, with regard to working conditions, the further academic establishment, and the external presentation of the specialty.

Objective: Because of the increasing shortage of general practitioners (GPs) in many countries, this study aimed to explore factors related to GP career choice in recent medical graduates. Particular focus was placed on the impact of specific practice-orientated GP courses at different stages of the medical undergraduate curriculum. Design: Observational study. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to reveal independent associations with career choice. Setting: Leipzig Medical School, Germany. Subjects: 659 graduates (response rate = 64.2%). Main outcome measure: Choice of general practice as a career. Results: Six student-associated variables were found to be independently related to choice of general practice as a career: age, having family or friends in general practice, consideration of a GP career at matriculation, preference for subsequent work in a rural or small-town area, valuing the ability to see a broad spectrum of patients, and valuing long-term doctor – patient relationships. Regarding the curriculum, after adjustment independent associations were found with a specifi c pre-clinical GP elective (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.3 – 5.3), a four-week GP clerkship during the clinical study section (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.3 – 5.0), and a four-month GP clinical rotation during the final year (OR = 10.7, 95% CI 4.3 – 26.7). It was also found that the work-related values of the female participants were more compatible with those of physicians who opt for a GP career than was the case for their male colleagues. Conclusion: These results support the suggestion that a practice-orientated GP curriculum in both the earlier and later stages of undergraduate medical education raises medical schools’ output of future GPs. The findings are of interest for medical schools (curriculum design, admission criteria), policy-makers, and GPs involved in undergraduate medical education. More research is needed on the effectiveness of specific educational interventions in promoting interest in general practice as a career.