Context:

Family Medicine is being challenged to articulate the nature of Generalist work. International challenges include: measurement, quality assurance and organisation of clinical work; and shaping of clinical curricula content. Organisation of care in the UK is shifting family medicine away from comprehensive negotiation of 'patient problems' towards specialised management of complexity and multi-morbidity. Consequences include an assumption that patients can problem-set and appropriately identify needs, alongside implications for healthcare workers’ identities. In Canada, the increasing diversification of family physician roles, risks losing sight of what is core to generalist practice. It is therefore crucial to articulate the nature of 'Generalism' to sustain the legitimacy of family medicine and plan for workforce and capacity building alongside construction of relevant future education endeavours.

Objective:

To identify, synthesize and map concepts described in international research and policy literature that underpin 'Generalism'.

Study Design:

Scoping review Dataset: Systematic search of electronic databases (Pubmed, Psycinfo, OVID Healthstar, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations). Inclusion of quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method studies, conceptual papers and grey literature, supplemented by citation searching and contact with primary authors. Search terms are being trialed iteratively. Exploded MeSH headings, database-specific controlled vocabulary and free text will be employed to ensure breadth and depth of coverage. Truncation and appropriate Boolean operators will be employed.

Population:

English-language studies, published in last 10 years in medicine (Family Medicine, internal medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery). Excluding: other health care professionals.

Outcome Measures:

Descriptive summaries (who is talking about generalism, where, definitions used), conceptual map of under-pinning principles and concepts of ‘Generalism’ (what); similarities and differences between contexts, disciplines; and identification of areas for future research.

Results:

Preliminary findings will be presented at a stakeholder meeting with in Nov, 2019.

Expected Outcomes:

Our findings will support colleagues to make explicit, support and sustain principles of Generalism in service and education future planning.