Commercial business and partnership aspects of general practice: the learning needs of First5 general practitioners in NHS Scotland–a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES: To identify the learning needs of recently qualified general practitioners (GPs) (First5) in National Health Service (NHS) Scotland concerning GP partnership and the commercial business aspects of general practice. It aimed to identify learning opportunities during General Practice Specialty Training and the first 5 years of work, and to explore their suggestions of additional resources that would improve their sense of preparedness for partnership. A secondary aim was to explore what influenced their current choice of employment model and place of work. DESIGN: Qualitative research study using grounded theory methods. Recruitment was stratified to include First5 GPs from a range of NHS boards in Scotland including remote and rural areas. Participants were interviewed in small focus groups or individual interviews in person, or over the telephone depending on their preference. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcriptions were coded and codes developed into themes using Charmazian grounded theory methods. Data saturation was achieved and verified by the researchers. SETTING: General practice in NHS Scotland. Participant GPs, within the first 5 years of completion of General Practice Specialty Training, who were working in NHS Scotland. RESULTS: Twenty-seven recently qualified GPs participated in the study. Three main themes were constructed: preparedness for partnership from experiential learning in General Practice Specialty Training; perceived commercial business learning needs and preferred learning styles (with learning needs arranged into five topic areas); considerations that inform decision-making about choice of employment model and of practice. Factors that influenced the decision to enter into specific employment models were identified. CONCLUSION: Lengthening the time spent in specialty training may help GP trainees gain more knowledge, skills and confidence about the commercial business aspects of general practice and of GP partnership.