Supplementary Data Contents Supplementary Table 1 Demographic characteristics of the sample Page 1 Supplementary Table 2 Uncertainty scores in the three medical schools Page 2 Supplementary Figure 1 Cumulative response rates over time for the three groups Page 3 Supplementary Box 1 Survey instrument used Pages 4-13 Supplementary Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the sample. Variable ARU (N=79) UEA (N=151) UOC (N=253) Total (N=483) Chi-square test (p-value) N (% over the respondents of the medical school) N (% over the respondents of the medical school) N (% over the respondents of the medical school) N (% over total sample of respondents)   Gender     Female 55(69.62) 97(64.24) 137(54.15) 289(59.83) 8.31 (0.081) Male 24(30.38) 53(35.10) 115(45.45) 192(39.75) Other 0(0.00) 1(0.66) 1(0.4) 2(0.41) Age groups         (17-20] 65(82.28) 112(74.17) 215(84.98) 392(81.16)   (20-25] 11(13.92) 35(23.18) 27(10.67) 73(15.11) 12.64 (0.049) (25-30] 3(3.80) 4(2.65) 10(3.95) 17(3.52) 30+ 0(0.00) 0(0.00) 1(0.40) 1(0.21)  Ethnicity         Asian 41(51.90) 42(27.81) 71(28.06) 154(31.88)   White 25(31.65) 85(56.29) 124(49.01) 234(48.45) 29.86(0.000) Black/ Mixed 8(10.13) 14(9.27) 29(11.46) 51(10.56) Chinese 0(0.00) 2(1.32) 17(6.72) 19(3.93) Other/ prefer not to say 5(6.33) 8(5.30) 12(4.74) 25(5.18) Supplementary Table 2. Uncertainty scores in the three medical schools Uncertainty score Medical School  Mean (sd)  Min  25th percentile  Mean (sd)  Median  75th percentile  Max  ARU (N=70)  22.89 (5.55)  12  18  22.89 (5.55)  23  26  35  UEA (N=143)  24.42 (5.38)  10  20  24.42 (5.38)  24  28  39  UOC (N=229)  24.10 (5.08)  12  21  24.10 (5.08)  24  27  40  Total  24.01 (5.27)  10  20  24.01 (5.27)  24  28  40  Supplementary Figure 1. Cumulative Response Rates Over Time For The Three Groups Supplementary BOX 1: SURVEY INSTRUMENT USED Survey of perceptions of uncertainty, careers and general practice 2020 Full Name ________________________________________________________________ Email Address (.ac.uk) ________________________________________________________________ If you are happy to take part in the questionnaire parts of the study, please click on the boxes below : I have read the information sheet version 2.3, dated 25th November 2020 (1) I have had the opportunity to ask questions and to have them answered (2) I understand that participation is voluntary, and my decision about participation will have no impact on my progress on the course. (3) I am happy to take part in this questionnaire study (4) I understand that anonymised databases will be available to members of the research team in the University of Cambridge (5) (review the Information Sheet here )  Firstly, about yourself : What gender are you ?  Male (1) Female (2) Prefer not to say (3) Which medicine course are you on? Five year standard MBBS course (1) Five year MBBS course (plus intercalated masters) (2) What age are you in years?  ________________________________________________________________ What ethnicity are you? White (1) Asian (2) Black (3) Chinese (4) Mixed (5) Other (6) Prefer not to say (7) In this first section you will find a series of statements which describe how people may react to the uncertainties of life.  Please use the scale below to describe to what extent each item is characteristic of you. When I am uncertain, I can't function very well (1 = not at all, 5 =entirely)         1 2 3 4 5 When I am uncertain, I can't go forward (1 = not at all, 5 =entirely)         1 2 3 4 5 I should be able to organise everything in advance (1 = not at all, 5 =entirely)         1 2 3 4 5 Uncertainty makes me uneasy, anxious, or stressed (1 = not at all, 5 = entirely) 1 2 3 4 5 12 It frustrates me not having all the information I need (1 = not at all, 5 =entirely)         1 2 3 4 5 The ambiguities in life stress me (1 = not at all, 5 =entirely)         1 2 3 4 5 When it's time to act, uncertainty paralyses me (1 = not at all, 5 =entirely)         1 2 3 4 5 Being uncertain means that I am not first rate (1 = not at all, 5 =entirely)         1 2 3 4 5 This next section explores your thoughts about your future career Rate how important the following factors are to you when choosing your future career : Not at all Completely Intellectual Stimulation Flexibility Opportunities for creativity / innovation Working hours Team Working (i.e. not isolated) Research / academic opportunities Prestige/status Opportunities for Leadership On completing your medical degree,  do you intend to have a career as a doctor? definitely not Might or Might not definitely yes -50 -30 -10 10 30 50   How likely do you think you are to choose general practice as a career? Highly Unlikely Neither unlikely or likely Highly Likely -50 -30 -10 10 30 50   This final section explores your perceptions of general practice Based on your experience, to what extent do you associate the following words or phrases with general practice : Not at all Completely Intellectually stimulating Favourable working hours Flexibility Research / academic opportunities Prestige / status Team working (i.e. not isolated) Scientifically based Opportunities for leadership Opportunities for creativity / innovation So far during your medical course, have you had a positive role model who happens to be a GP? Yes (1) No (2) So far during your medical course, have you encountered an academic who is a GP? Yes (1) No (2) Have you attended a GPSoc (student GP society) event? Yes (1) No (2) Do you have a friend or a member of your family who is a GP? Yes (1) No (2) How would you say GPs and general practice have been represented in the media in the last 6 months?  extremely negatively extremely positively -50 -30 -10 10 30 50   So far, to what extent have you encountered the following - Not at all a great deal Negativity towards general practice from academics, clinicians and/or educational trainers? Negativity towards general practice from other medical students? Negativity towards general practice from family and friends? So far what has your experience of general practice as a patient or as a relative of a patient been like? very negative Neutral very positive -50 -30 -10 10 30 50 So far what has your experience on GP placement been like? very negative Neutral very positive -50 -30 -10 10 30 50 Why is this? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ How likely do you think you are to choose one of these areas as a career? Highly Unlikely Neither unlikely or likely Highly Likely -50 -30 -10 10 30 50 Anaesthetics Dermatology Emergency Medicine Geriatrics Hospital Medicine (the physicianly specialties) Obstetrics & Gynecology Paediatrics Pathology Psychiatry Public Health Radiology Surgery A career outside of medicine Finally, please indicate whether you want your name put into the hat for the prize draw or not.  Yes please enter my name into the prize draw (1) Page of Page 13 of 13 image3.png image1.png image2.png