Introduction: Retention of general practitioners (GPs) is crucial to ensure appropriate primary care. However, some recently qualified GPs feel unprepared for practice, which may lead them to leave the profession or restrict their scope of practice. The development of self-efficacy beliefs during vocational training may be an important factor in this phenomenon.
Methods: Five focus groups with a total of 28 GP trainees and recent graduates were conducted in Belgium and France. Initial analysis using the immersion-crystallisation method was followed by analysis using Bandura's self-efficacy framework.
Results: Participants described beginning their training with low self-efficacy beliefs. Most participants described how they overcame stressful situations. Some, however, seemed to be developing avoidance strategies. Successfully resolving patient problems, sharing experiences with peers and receiving positive feedback from supervisors, colleagues and patients were conducive to the development of positive self-efficacy beliefs.
Discussion: Although low self-efficacy beliefs are natural at the beginning of training, participants seemed to develop in two ways, either overcoming their fears or avoiding them. Identifying the pattern of trainees' responses to allow tailoring of interventions should be investigated by those who run training programs. Interventions could include reassurance, peer interaction and an appropriate degree of autonomy.