Does a brief clerkship change Hong Kong medical students' ideas about general practice?

Objectives This study examines the impact on students of a brief general pr actice clerkship, during a curriculum that is otherwise almost entirely hos pital-based and in a practice environment that often does not encourage goo d primary care. Design 15 focus group discussions were held with a total of 110 students, a s part of an action research project. Student responses were audiotaped, tr anscribed and then analysed for recurrent themes. Setting General Practice Unit, University of Hong Kong. Subjects Medical students Results There was evidence of pre-existing negative stereotypes of general practice, but in many cases these were dispelled by the relationships stude nts developed during their attachment to general practitioners in the commu nity. In an overcrowded curriculum, students ration their time and energy, focusing their learning pragmatically on subjects that have a high profile during examinations. Conclusions Even in healthcare and medical school systems that are speciali st-dominated, and in which the circumstances of practice do not always enco urage high standards of care, the general practice clerkship can allow stud ents to gain an understanding of the importance of primary care, and of the significance of the general practitioner's role in the healthcare system.