Learning from the best: How medical-students construct role models in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and what factors influence this process, a qualitative study

Background
Role-modelling has been found to strongly influence speciality choice for medical students either positively or negatively. There is a deficit in recruitment toward general practice, set to exacerbate the shortfall in GP numbers over the coming decade in the face of spiralling demand. In medical school, students acquire knowledge, skills and start to form their professional identity by observation and interaction with medical educators through the process of role-modelling. Given the significance of this process, the present study attempted to explore the “lived experience” of medical students encountering potential role models during their GP placement using a qualitative method.

Methods
Following a design based upon the principles of Grounded Theory 10 qualitative interviews were conducted with third-year medical student volunteers at Warwick Medical School. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using theoretical axial coding demonstrating data saturation in key themes.

Results
Analysis of data gave insights regarding student perception of positive and negative role modelling in three corresponding domains: Personal Attributes, Student Relationship and Patient Relationships.

Conclusions
The findings offer unique insights into the influence and impact of GP role-modelling on medical student’s experiences and perceptions during a time of the Covid-19 pandemic and the immediate post-pandemic period and add to the wider body of literature by exploring the influences GP role-modelling has on medical student training experience. The findings support easily implementable recommendations to strengthen positive role modelling in the GP medical student placement context.