General practitioner trainees’ career perspectives after COVID-19: a qualitative study in China
Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a worldwide public health emergency that has put great pressure on medical workers and the medical system. General Practitioners (GPs) played an important role in controlling the epidemic, and GP trainees also took an active part i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-020-01364-x |
| _version_ | 1811329258763583488 |
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| author | Yue Yin Xiaotian Chu Xinxin Han Yu Cao Hong Di Yun Zhang Xuejun Zeng |
| author_facet | Yue Yin Xiaotian Chu Xinxin Han Yu Cao Hong Di Yun Zhang Xuejun Zeng |
| author_sort | Yue Yin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a worldwide public health emergency that has put great pressure on medical workers and the medical system. General Practitioners (GPs) played an important role in controlling the epidemic, and GP trainees also took an active part in this approach. This study was to explore Chinese GP trainees’ career perspectives after COVID-19. Methods We conducted a qualitative research study which included 12 GP trainees from three teaching hospitals in China. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted. Grounded theory and thematic analysis were used to code the data and identify categories and factors. Results Eleven participants chose to continue a GP career after COVID-19, and nearly half of the participants strengthened their determination to dedicate themselves to this career. Only one participant decided to change the career choice because of interest in another specialty. Four main themes influencing GP trainees’ perceptions of career development after COVID-19 emerged from the interviews: changes of GPs’ work content in COVID-19, challenges of being a GP, psychological changes of the career, how to provide better primary care. Although some negative psychological changes existed, most of participants were inspired by role models and medical colleagues. They had more in-depth understanding of GPs’ role and responsibility during COVID-19, and exhibited intensions for self-improvement in career development, especially in public health education and self-protection in preventing infectious diseases. In addition, the wide use of telemedicine provided a new work way for GP trainees. However, challenges, such as increased workloads, low income, lack of resources in primary medical institutions, and distrust of GPs are faced by trainees during the outbreak. Conclusions Overall, no substantial changes were seen in the career choice of GP trainees after COVID-19 outbreak. However, they were inspired and had an in-depth understanding about the GP’s work and responsibility during an epidemic. Owing to the challenges faced by the GPs, measures are needed to improve the GP education and work environment in the training phase. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:40:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4592d56cd9034f768f7cbab4632a10f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:40:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-4592d56cd9034f768f7cbab4632a10f32022-12-22T02:41:09ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962021-01-012211910.1186/s12875-020-01364-xGeneral practitioner trainees’ career perspectives after COVID-19: a qualitative study in ChinaYue Yin0Xiaotian Chu1Xinxin Han2Yu Cao3Hong Di4Yun Zhang5Xuejun Zeng6Department of General Practice (General Internal Medicine), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)Department of General Practice (General Internal Medicine), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)Department of General Practice (General Internal Medicine), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)Department of General Practice (General Internal Medicine), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)Department of General Practice (General Internal Medicine), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)Department of General Practice (General Internal Medicine), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)Department of General Practice (General Internal Medicine), Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a worldwide public health emergency that has put great pressure on medical workers and the medical system. General Practitioners (GPs) played an important role in controlling the epidemic, and GP trainees also took an active part in this approach. This study was to explore Chinese GP trainees’ career perspectives after COVID-19. Methods We conducted a qualitative research study which included 12 GP trainees from three teaching hospitals in China. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted. Grounded theory and thematic analysis were used to code the data and identify categories and factors. Results Eleven participants chose to continue a GP career after COVID-19, and nearly half of the participants strengthened their determination to dedicate themselves to this career. Only one participant decided to change the career choice because of interest in another specialty. Four main themes influencing GP trainees’ perceptions of career development after COVID-19 emerged from the interviews: changes of GPs’ work content in COVID-19, challenges of being a GP, psychological changes of the career, how to provide better primary care. Although some negative psychological changes existed, most of participants were inspired by role models and medical colleagues. They had more in-depth understanding of GPs’ role and responsibility during COVID-19, and exhibited intensions for self-improvement in career development, especially in public health education and self-protection in preventing infectious diseases. In addition, the wide use of telemedicine provided a new work way for GP trainees. However, challenges, such as increased workloads, low income, lack of resources in primary medical institutions, and distrust of GPs are faced by trainees during the outbreak. Conclusions Overall, no substantial changes were seen in the career choice of GP trainees after COVID-19 outbreak. However, they were inspired and had an in-depth understanding about the GP’s work and responsibility during an epidemic. Owing to the challenges faced by the GPs, measures are needed to improve the GP education and work environment in the training phase.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-020-01364-xCOVID-19General practiceGeneral practitioner educationCareer perspectives |
| spellingShingle | Yue Yin Xiaotian Chu Xinxin Han Yu Cao Hong Di Yun Zhang Xuejun Zeng General practitioner trainees’ career perspectives after COVID-19: a qualitative study in China BMC Family Practice COVID-19 General practice General practitioner education Career perspectives |
| title | General practitioner trainees’ career perspectives after COVID-19: a qualitative study in China |
| title_full | General practitioner trainees’ career perspectives after COVID-19: a qualitative study in China |
| title_fullStr | General practitioner trainees’ career perspectives after COVID-19: a qualitative study in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | General practitioner trainees’ career perspectives after COVID-19: a qualitative study in China |
| title_short | General practitioner trainees’ career perspectives after COVID-19: a qualitative study in China |
| title_sort | general practitioner trainees career perspectives after covid 19 a qualitative study in china |
| topic | COVID-19 General practice General practitioner education Career perspectives |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-020-01364-x |
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