Medical students value-adding to general practice.

Background And Objectives: Medical students can make valuable contributions to patient care during clinical placements. The aim of this study was to investigate student perceptions of the value of general practice placements for their learning, and their sense of contribution during their placements.

Method: The study used a qualitative design to gather in-depth student perspectives on learning and contributions, using focus groups of final-year medical students on general practice placement.

Results: Thirteen students participated in one of three focus groups. Students reported valuable learning affordances in general practice and identified contributions to improved workflow, rapport-building, patient education, encouraging clinician reflection and shared learning between general practitioner and student.

Discussion: Student perspectives of value-adding on general practice placements, and a deeper understanding of these learning environments, may enable general practice supervisors to facilitate placements that maximise these benefits.