Community-based teaching: the challenges

The amount of undergraduate medical education delivered in general practice is expanding rapidly, both in the United Kingdom and internationally. Ther e are a number of challenges facing general practice as well as medical sch ools, health authorities and primary care groups, which must be met for thi s development to be sustainable. These include: impact on service general p ractice; resources; difficulties with integrating basic sciences with clini cal teaching; recruitment, training and maintenance of GP tutors; quality c ontrol; impact on academic departments of primary care; and the importance of rigorous evaluation of educational initiatives. Possible solutions are d iscussed, such as development of university linked practices and the move t oward a culture of 'evidence-based education' where all medical education i s scrutinized for effectiveness.