Why choose general practice?
Mrs Pauline Ingham, R.W.A.V., Australia*
The VicNet consortium have surveyed new entrants for the past five years exploring the influences — personal, professional and marketing — that impact on a general career choice. This paper explores the range of influences and its implications on marketing and recruiting into general practice.
Data has been collected over 5 years from two sources: Victorian AGPT New Entrants and attendees of VicNet Hospital Seminars promoting the AGPT program in Victoria including both medical students and prevocational junior doctors (PGY1-7).
VicNet’s marketing program’s goal is to build awareness of AGPT to the prevocational doctor market. Promotional events in Victorian Hospitals are the major focus however these are supported by a range of other marketing activities. The outcomes for VicNet over the five year period have been an increase in applications and a record number of training places (96.63%) being filled in Victoria in 2010.
In addition to Victorian state marketing, there were many other factors at play during the five year period 2005 – 2009.
How much of the 2010 success is due to the state marketing VicNet undertakes? How much of the increase would have occurred regardless of marketing activities?
The VicNet New Entrant trend data reveals the top three reasons for choosing general practice, looks at the impact of marketing activities on a GP career choice and also looks at decision timeframe. Exposure time in rural environments is considered in pathway choices. The emergence of doctors from medical student “GP pathway programs” is also considered.
VicNet must now consider whether past performance will be an indicator of future success in the recruitment for general practice training. Will the current strategies be appropriate in an increased target market and for a new generation of doctors entering their prevocational hospital years?
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