[A general practitioner as artisan].

Abstract

For the general practitioner to practice his craft he must be able to combine attitudes, knowledge and skills in a lifelong process of learning. In this connection, reflection about his own practice is important, alone or together with colleagues, because his is a lonesome place of work, without the same network to rely on as his colleagues in hospital. The demands with regard to the craft of general practice depend to some extent on where in Norway the practice is located, but there are some practical skills that every general practitioner should possess, and critical reflection on one's own practice is important for developing them. Such skills are also necessary for communication with the hospitals. These days, the general practitioner has to deal with many problems that were solved earlier in hospital. The family practitioner has to connect all the threads from the different specialists. To do this well, he must develop his "craftsmanship", so as to maintain his credibility and the trust of the community.