Abstract: Objective To explore the significance of surgical skills training in general practitioner education, the existing problems, and solutions. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among general practitioners undergoing and those who had completed standardized residency training at the Department of General Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 2014 to May 2022, as well as their instructors. The questionnaire included the respondents′ basic information, evaluation of the importance of surgical training, perceived current problems in surgical training, and potential solutions to these problems. The questionnaire was distributed and completed using the “Questionnaire Star” software. Results Surgical skills training was an essential part of general medical education. General practitioners identified general surgery and orthopedics as key departments requiring focused training. Additionally, specific surgical skills, such as wound dressing and suture removal, were crucial for general practitioners. However, the current surgical training model faced issues such as limited clinical practice and lack of practical opportunities. Conclusions Surgical skills training is a vital component of general medical education, contributing to the development of general practitioners′ surgical clinical practice capabilities. Nonetheless, the current methods of surgical skills training have many deficiencies. Understanding general practitioners′ perceptions of surgical training can help educational administrators design and implement targeted surgical skills training programs.

Key words: general practitioner education, surgical skills training