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Table 1 Possible actions to strengthen general practice/family medicine (GP/FM) in Europe – scores on a 9-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree on importance, 9 = strongly agree, n = 30 respondents)

From: Strengthening general practice/family medicine in Europe—advice from professionals from 30 European countries

Possible action to strengthen GP/FM in Europe

Mean score

Min - max

SD

Final score

To keep family doctors as leaders of GP/FM university departments

8.36

5–9

0.99

7.37

To build the same level of specialty as other disciplines

8.29

3–9

1.54

6.75

To train academic teaching staff, to run “Training of Trainers”

7.96

5–9

1.35

6.61

To create a network of GP/FM university departments

7.89

5–9

1.29

6.60

To develop staff and invest in academic development, motivate young staff to build an academic career

7.66

5–9

1.08

6.58

To have strong leaders

7.89

4–9

1.32

6.57

To remind that to prepare doctors for primary care is a priority for Ministry of Health and universities

7.82

4–9

1.36

6.46

To look at what specific help individual countries need

7.54

5–9

1.31

6.24

To keep working and proving yourself

7.68

4–9

1.43

6.18

To invest in research and common research projects

7.60

3–9

1.45

6.15

To know existing statement papers and create a common list of documents, bibliography and selected readings

7.57

4–9

1.45

6.12

To build a strong scientific society

7.83

1–9

1.74

6.09

To introduce a mentor system with one to one teaching and create a list of tutors for teaching

7.39

3–9

1.52

5.87

To empower EURACT, make transparency and visibility

7.32

4–9

1.49

5.83

To list the competencies for undergraduate level

7.39

4–9

1.69

5.70

To establish common learning objectives

7.25

1–9

1.65

5.60

To create a link between academics and policy makers

7.23

4–9

1.63

5.60

To collaborate with other organizations

7.10

3–9

1.61

5.49

To find a “right person” to get in touch with Minister of Health, rector, etc.

7.11

3–9

1.71

5.40

To use public opinion for political pressure

7.10

4–9

1.71

5.39

To find what are the patient’s needs and make patients our partners

6.96

3–9

1.44

5.32

To stress the cost- effectiveness

7.07

1–9

1.84

5.23

To involve media to show leaders and/or popular persons

6.75

4–9

1.53

5.22

To make GP/FM attractive - “sexy”

6.89

4–9

1.69

5.20

To introduce a special course on GP/FM for first year students and early clinical exposure

7.00

3–9

1.87

5.13

To work on good examples

7.36

1–9

2.20

5.16

To introduce certification for GP/FM educators

6.79

1–9

1.83

4.96

To use experts’ help and invite experienced colleagues from other countries to establish a GP/FM university department

7.04

1–9

2.12

4.92

To provide databases and web resources

6.75

3–9

1.88

4.87

To learn from those who succeed to establish a GP/FM University Department

6.96

1–9

2.15

4.81

To present goals at national conferences

6.83

1–9

2.02

4.81

To use modern technology

6.71

1–9

1.94

4.77

To use help of whole Europe

6.71

1–9

1.97

4.69

To show documents to the governments and media

6.25

4–9

1.58

4.67

To prepare a position paper to define university curriculum and include GP/FM in university curriculum

7.10

1–9

2.52

4.58

To look at the common GP/FM curriculum in the country

6.54

3–9

2.01

4.53

To write an open letter, describe who you are, what are your goals and objectives, what is done already, what are your future aspirations, offer yourself as an expert, volunteer to help

6.32

2–9

1.83

4.49

To organize educational research on “the best curriculum”

6.68

1–9

2.21

4.47

To know what others do, find common points with specialists and look for specialists’ allies and help, share and collaborate with them

6.11

4–9

1.69

4.42

To exchange teachers

6.43

1–9

2.19

4.11

To post an English version of the curriculum on the university website

6.29

1–9

2.39

3.90

To implement a GP/FM approach in other subjects/disciplines

6.21

1–9

2.42

3.88

To improve European legislation

5.80

1–9

2.20

3.60

“Touch the hearts”/ show movies

5.86

1–9

2.42

3.44

To define what is GP/FM

5.43

1–9

2.69

2.74

To organize GP/FM training for other specialists

4.04

1–9

2.69

1.35

To push deans to specialize in GP/FM

3.54

1–8

2.50

1.04

To organize workshops on cardiology, hematology, neurology etc. for GPs

3.46

1–9

2.29

.67

To stop fighting

3.54

1–9

3.01

.53

To start fighting

3.43

1–9

3.02

.41

  1. Final score = mean score – 1 SD