Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41344816›Full record

SynthesisThe British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners2026

Factors influencing UK medical students' choice of general practice: a systematic review.

Catharina Savelkoul, Lydia Prieto I Sepúlveda, Sophie Park, Nia W Roberts, Stavros Petrou, Joan E Madia, Simon de Lusignan, Catia Nicodemo

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Catharina SavelkoulNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK catharina.savelkoul@trinity.ox.ac.uk.ORCID 0009-0001-0006-9185
Lydia Prieto I SepúlvedaErasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Sophie ParkNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1521-2052
Nia W RobertsBodleian Health Care Libraries, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1142-6440
Stavros PetrouNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-3121-6050
Joan E MadiaNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Simon de LusignanNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8553-2641
Catia NicodemoNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-5490-9576

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/W006731/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere are currently concerns about recruitment to UK general practice. There have been various efforts and approaches to increase recruitment to general practice, and there is a lack of contemporary insights and knowledge about the factors that shape medical students' career intentions.

aimTo identify and analyse the key factors influencing UK medical students' choice of general practice as a career pathway. DESIGN AND

settingThis was a systematic review of empirical literature about factors influencing career choice in UK undergraduate medical education synthesising both quantitative and qualitative evidence across UK medical education contexts.

methodA systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Systematic searches of seven electronic databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, ERIC, Web of Science, British Education Index, and EconLit) were conducted to identify primary research published from 1990 to 2024. The Bland-Meurer theoretical framework structured the analysis.

resultsThe systematic review identified 29 studies. Three critical dominant factors emerged: an educational disconnect between GP recruitment needs and medical curricula; the persistent negative hidden curriculum experienced by students in various settings; and the important role of authentic clinical placements and positive role models in challenging negative stereotypes.

conclusionThe findings from this review suggest that medical education structures and institutional cultures influence medical students' decisions about general practice careers. Medical schools and policymakers can improve recruitment by addressing the educational factors that shape career choice. Increasing high-quality general practice exposure in the curriculum, actively countering negative perceptions of general practice, and promoting positive GP role models are all crucial.

Indexed as

Career ChoiceEducation, Medical, UndergraduateGeneral PracticeStudents, MedicalCurriculumHumansUnited Kingdomcareer choicegeneral practicemedical educationprimary health care

Identifiers

PMID41344816
PMCPMC13531586

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.