GENERAL-PRACTITIONER TEACHING IN THE COMMUNITY - A STUDY OF THEIR TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND INTEREST IN UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING IN THE FUTURE

Background. In line with the General Medical Council (GMC) recommendat ions for undergraduate teaching, many medical schools are implementing new programmes of community-based teaching. Little is known about the enthusiasm of general practictioners (GPs) for, or their ability to u ndertake, an additional teaching role. Aim. To assess the reservoir of teaching experience among GPs and, in particular, their undergraduate teaching experience, their views on the rewards and problems of teach ing, their interest in teaching in the future, and their needs for sup port. Method Postal questionnaire sent to all 417 GP principals with L ambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham family health service authorities (FHS As) in January 1995. Results. We achieved a 74% (310/417) response rat e. A total of 86% (261/303) of GPs have some sort of teaching experien ce in their current practice. A large number of medical and non-medica l subjects are already being taught. Overall, 75% (228/303) of GPs had experience of undergraduate teaching. Only 13% (41/303) had no teachi ng experience of any kind. Very few responders felt that teaching was best done in hospital. Different rewards and problems of teaching were perceived by undergraduate teaching GPs and other GPs. There was a hi gh level of interest in undergraduate teaching in the future and a dem and for a variety of support measures from medical schools. Conclusion s. New community-based programmes are likely to receive support from G Ps, but the viral issues of time, adequate financial reward, and teach er training must be addressed by medical schools if large-scale change s in undergraduate teaching are to be achieved.