Background: An effective vocational training for future general practitioners (GPs) requires experience in various specialties and locations. Although this is required for specialty examinations, in Germany the necessary organisation traditionally has been left to the registrar himself. However, increasingly integrated training schemes offer rotations including hospital departments and general practices. The present study evaluates the number, structure and impact of these training schemes in Germany. Methods: Providers of training schemes for GP registrars who offer at least two specialties were identified by advertisements in the national medical journal ('Deutsches Ärzteblatt') and through contact with various medical organisations. By means of a structured telephone interview with senior physicians or administrators, the size, structure, and impact of the education programmes were assessed. Results: Between the years 2002 and 2004, a total of 31 providers could be identified in Germany, 29 of which were willing to participate in the questionnaire. The networks had mainly been founded by rural hospitals; only two were university-based. Five networks included GP's practices as part of the rotation. The number of positions per network was one to five. Despite overall positive experiences, the number of networks was declining within the last 6 months of the observation period. Conclusions: We expect vocational training schemes for general practice/family medicine to increase the number of GPs and the quality of their training. However, the primary driving force behind current training schemes has been the need of small rural hospitals to attract doctors to fill vacant positions. In the future, the philosophy of general practice/family medicine and its educational consequences will have to be strengthened. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart.
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