The impact of medical students on rural general practitioner perceptors.

INTRODUCTION: As universities rely more heavily on rural GPs to precept medical students, the formation of symbiotic partnerships benefiting students, universities and GPs, becomes imperative. In order to develop and consolidate these partnerships Universities must understand who their rural GP preceptors are and how precepting impacts on them. METHODS: A review of the literature was undertaken to determine the significant themes of student impacts from articles where conclusions were clearly based on empirical findings. RESULTS: Forty-three articles were included in the final review, but only nine specifically looked at impacts on rural GPs. Impacts were categorised into six domains: personal; time; patient care; professional relationships and professional development; business and infrastructure; and recognition and remuneration. CONCLUSIONS: Literature specifically addressing the impact of precepting on rural GPs is scarce. Further studies are required to evaluate the relationship between the quality of teaching delivered to students, the type and length of student attachments and the likely impacts on rural GPs.