General practice / family medicine: evolving undergraduate medical curricula – A narrative review and discussion paper

Abstract

Purpose – General practice or family medicine has evolved into a cornerstone discipline in undergraduate medical education, reflecting the rising demand for community-based, patient-centred care. This narrative review explores current general practice curriculum models globally and identifies practical strategies for developing and updating curricula to meet evolving healthcare needs. Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus, ERIC and Google Scholar was conducted, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for article selection and assessment, to identify core themes, educational principles and innovative approaches to curriculum design and delivery in general practice education from 2005 to 2025. Findings – Of the 700 articles identified, 42 articles included in the final analysis. The review identified five key themes in current general practice curricula: (1) Core competencies (patient-centred care, problem-solving, holistic care and interprofessional collaboration), (2) Targeted regional needs (rural health, marginalised populations and climate health), (3) Clinical placements (early exposure and community-based placements), (4) Educational strategies (blended learning, case-based and interprofessional education) and (5) Teaching and student support (faculty development, infrastructure and student services). Practical implications – This is particularly timely as medical schools globally are currently undertaking curriculum reviews with a stronger focus on general practice. Originality/value – This narrative review highlights essential elements for responsive, evidence-informed general practice curricula and suggests ways clinical educators can align teaching practices with evolving community health priorities. Ensuring structured clinical placements and addressing underserved populations are critical to preparing future ready general practitioners.