An analysis of the trainee year in general practice.

A survey of 12,425 trainee consultations is reported. Chronic illness only constituted 19.4% of their workload. The greatest number of consultations occurred with younger patients in the 20-30 age group. Only a small proportion of consultations involved anticipatory care and health education (0.3% and 1.1% of total workload respectively). Women patients showed a strong preference to consult a female doctor with twice as many seeing a lady trainee in preference to a male doctor. The study has implications for teaching and learning during the trainee year in general practice.