Jumping in: Research skills development in general practice training, and incentives, barriers and enablers for novice GP researcher journeys.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to understand novice Australian general practitioner (GP) researcher career pathways, and the training sector's recommendations for developing general practice registrar research knowledge and skills. METHOD: The study comprised semi-structured focus groups and interviews via Zoom in 2022, with purposively sampled medical educators, research staff, GP academics and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners registrars and recent Fellows (29 participants). RESULTS: Intellectual challenge, passion for improving patient care, and a desire to complement patient-facing work with related activities drove research engagement. Financial and family commitments were often barriers to progressing research higher degrees and academic pathways. The clinical focus, limited flexibility and short duration of general practice training programs limited research engagement, except for the Academic Post Program. Opportunities to progress novice GP academic and/or researcher pathways, outside teaching and education research, are poorly signposted. DISCUSSION: The Academic Post Program received strong support. Additional, flexible mechanisms are needed Australia- wide for progressing novice researcher pathways throughout general practice training and after Fellowship.