Aim: The core competencies of general practitioners (GP) are ordinarily formulated by professional bodies and international organisations, like the World Organization of Family Doctors (Wonca). Official documents are sometimes questioned as being too comprehensive and products of the drawing board. The aim was to explore clinically oriented GPs own description of the proficiency used in everyday practice. The study could be essential both for GPs and other professionals who work with consultations.
Method: Group interviews with GPs selected by regional supervisors and with substantial clinical competence were carried out. The verbatim transcribed sessions were analyzed with a qualitative content analysis approach.
Results: Two main categories emerged reflecting the competence: ''Professional readiness'' and ''Working behaviour''. Professional readiness comprises the inclination of understanding and acting based on the subcategories: medical knowledge modified by experience, knowing the patient, involvement and uncertainty. Working behaviour describes in a more concrete way the doctoring approach and is formed by the subcategories: preparation, the current problem, use of time, body attention, cooperation with other professionals, and record keeping as a work aid.
Conclusions: The attributes of competence of GPs empirically have two components: professional readiness and working behaviour. Together they compose a comprehensive picture of the GP's everyday clinical setting.