Present status analysis and strategies of general practitioners' professional training in Eastern Guangdong

Objective To investigate the status and demands of general practitioners(GPs) in Eastern Guangdong,and provide scientific evidences for the training system and methods of general practice. Methods A questionnaire survey was carried out among 110 trainees(cluster sampling) attended the 4th Job Training Course in Eastern Guangdong Province to investigate the cognition,practice environment and training demands of trainees. Results GPs in the group were normally short of education background and professional title,72.73% of them were with diploma courses and below,90.90% of them were with junior professional title,in which 55.45% were assistant doctors.95.45% of trainees had never received any education or training of general practice,and 37.27% of trainees agreed that the training necessary for the practice.The discontents of the practice status were resulted from working condition,working environment,promotion and career development opportunities and training supports,accounted for 60.0%,42.7%,28.18% and 20.9%,respectively.The defects of professionalism included health record management,medical examination and laboratory,maternal and children health care,psychotherapy,nutriology,rehabilitation medicine and medical ethics,for 82.73%,83.64%,80.00%,84.55%,85.45%,84.55% and 82.73%,respectively. Conclusion The obvious problems in GPs include short of education background and professional title,hard practice environment,lack of cognition on training,short of knowledge and skill.It reminds that the government should enhance the policies on General Practice to found a sustainable GPs training system in China,as well as optimize the practice environment of GPs reasonably to provide them career development opportunities with sense of accomplishment.The more incentive policies should be designed to retain and attract talent.