Huisartsgeneeskunde: aantrekkingskracht en beroepstrouw ... - Lirias
Huisartsgeneeskunde: aantrekkingskracht en beroepstrouw ... - Lirias
Huisartsgeneeskunde: aantrekkingskracht en beroepstrouw ... - Lirias
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
24 Making G<strong>en</strong>eral Practice Attractive: Encouraging GP attraction and Ret<strong>en</strong>tion KCE Reports 90<br />
the extra-curricular activities (e.g. elective clinical courses) reinforce this attitude<br />
52 .<br />
50 , 51 ,<br />
Role models<br />
The society is also responsible for the attraction for g<strong>en</strong>eral practice. The fri<strong>en</strong>ds,<br />
members of the family, local health professionals and school teachers, by their<br />
<strong>en</strong>couragem<strong>en</strong>ts, assistance and interest for the profession, can stimulate the degree of<br />
adhesion to g<strong>en</strong>eral practice 18 , 19 , 23 . Several stud<strong>en</strong>ts id<strong>en</strong>tified professionals in their<br />
school and community as role models or m<strong>en</strong>tors. The fact that the future g<strong>en</strong>eral<br />
practitioner can refer to a role model, ev<strong>en</strong> a m<strong>en</strong>tor GP during his studies, has a<br />
18 , 19 , 21 , 23 , 28 , 34 , 47 77 , 51 ,<br />
strongly positive influ<strong>en</strong>ces to the attraction into the profession<br />
53 33 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 .<br />
EXPECTATIONS REGARDING THE PROFESSION<br />
The perception of the profession determines the ori<strong>en</strong>tation towards a GP career.<br />
Some factors favor this ori<strong>en</strong>tation although many studies m<strong>en</strong>tion factors that have a<br />
harmful influ<strong>en</strong>ce.<br />
Negative perception of the profession<br />
First of all, many papers m<strong>en</strong>tion the difficult working conditions of the GPs. They<br />
include a heavy workload 28 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , the stressful lifestyle 30 , 44 and the non<br />
controllable lifestyle. Inflexibility of hours, required commitm<strong>en</strong>t and on call availability<br />
22 , 23 , 24 , 30 , 34 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69<br />
are some examples m<strong>en</strong>tioned in the<br />
studies to support this assertion.<br />
An other important factor is the balance with a harmonious family life who seems<br />
difficult 22 , 26 , 40 , 61 , 62 , 66 , 69 (especially for wom<strong>en</strong> 13 , a lack of personal time 61 or time<br />
with family 30 .<br />
Finally, disadvantages related to the health of the GP were m<strong>en</strong>tioned: professional<br />
burn out (ev<strong>en</strong> in young GP’s), stress and depression 62 .<br />
Finally, many studies suggest that stud<strong>en</strong>ts perceive that family practice has a less<br />
prestigious picture than other specialties within the medical profession. This relative<br />
lack of prestige reduces the attractiv<strong>en</strong>ess of primary care in comparison with other<br />
specialties 22 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 33 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 55 , 70 , 71 .<br />
The increasing demands and expectations of pati<strong>en</strong>ts 62 , 65 , 66 , 72 also play a deterring<br />
role, with pot<strong>en</strong>tial litigations 62 that follow their dissatisfaction.<br />
The burd<strong>en</strong> of administrative work also discourage some stud<strong>en</strong>ts 10 , 30 , 55 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 .<br />
Finally, the abs<strong>en</strong>ce of teamwork 23 , 31 and the insuffici<strong>en</strong>t intellectual cont<strong>en</strong>t 55 , are also<br />
pointed as factors not favorable to invest in a career of GP.<br />
Positive perception of the profession<br />
The pati<strong>en</strong>ts have also a positive role as regards the attraction for the GP profession.<br />
The practice of a holistic medicine 31 , 62 30 , 54 , 61 , 62 , 66<br />
registered in a continuity of care<br />
with human dim<strong>en</strong>sion 31 are tempting aspects for the future GPs.<br />
The good relationships with staff and local hospitals 62 reinforce the positive attraction<br />
for g<strong>en</strong>eral practice.<br />
23 , 54<br />
In addition, the variety of tasks (to deal with both common and complex problems)<br />
, 61 , 64 , 66<br />
repres<strong>en</strong>t positive aspects of the profession.<br />
The working conditions of the GP also have a positive features for attracting the future<br />
GP's, in particular three aspects related with autonomy: the flexibility of work 61 , the<br />
control over working pattern 61 and the possibility of a flexible career according to<br />
skills, interests, and personal situation 64 , 66 .