Gómez Bravo R, Schmidt M, Lygidakis C, Pekez-Pavlisko T, Moszumanska M, Gouveia A, Neves AL, Sklarova K, Varga A, Poppelier A,
Tekin N, VanGeest T, Pettigrew L, Baumgarther J, Del Olmo Fernandez S, Pendon Fernandez S, Sarmiento Cruz M, Garcia Mozun B.
VASCO DA GAMA MOVEMENT
AIM: To exhibit the differences between GP rural training programs across Europe.
METHODS: Through a cross-sectional study, we compare the structure and quality of the
GP vocational training schemes in the rural areas among VdGM countries.
 6 years for Medical degree
DON´T KNOW
 Most of them have PC studies at
University, GP exposure, lectures
on GP or teaching by a GP.
 Poor rural practice and learning
at med school.
 GP training: ?
- 5 years in Germany / UK
- 4 years: Spain, Czech
Republic, Poland.
- 3 years: them of all!
 50% postgraduate exam
RURAL
ROTATION
?  MAIN ISSUES, common to all countries:
- Training for emergencies, chronic disease
management with limited human and material
resources, cardiovascular and skill disease, mother
and child health, contraception, vaccination
• Questionary sent by e-mail: programmes, obstetrics problems, home care for
elderlies, minor surgery, palliative care, poisonings
How long do your medical studies take?
Have you got any PC studies at University? - Become conscious about oneself
And rural studies? - Difficult communication between hospital and GPs
Have you got any PC practice / GP practice at university? - Isolation, less social life, more distances, difficult
Do you need to pass a test to get through your GP training? access…
- More heavy, technology and financial
How long does your residency take? How many years: 3, 4 or more? problems,working longer…
Have you got any special rotation in rural practice during your residency
- Lacks of…
training program? Is it compulsory or elective?
In your opinion, what are the lacks of the rural practice?
Have you ever think in being a rural GP?
Do you think a rural GP need an extra training?
If you have to give a guideline for a rural GP, what do you think the main
issues are?
If you expend some time in a rural practice, what do you think the best and
the worse things are?
RESULTS: The evaluation has registered vast differences whithin compulsory GP programmes but the
same needs in each country.
CONCLUSIONS: General Practice Education must include a special practice training based in rural
settings, because remote medicine is another way to feel the kind of real doctor you are.