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Health systems that have strong primary health care at their core have overall better patient outcomes. Primary health care is key to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage and the broader health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Young primary health care professionals play a fundamental role in shaping this future. In 2018, at the launch of the Declaration of Astana, the World Health Organization formed the inaugural Primary Health Care Young Leaders’ Network. This group comprises 21 individuals from across the world, working across disciplines and within an array of socioeconomic contexts to improve primary health care in their respective countries. This paper describes the Young Leaders’ Network community of practice model, with examples of the work the members are doing, individually and collaboratively, to advance the science and practice of primary health care.

Background: The growing burden of chronic conditions and an ageing population has prompted an increased focus on health care services delivered in the community. General practice nurses (GPNs) have an important role in community-based care and significantly contribute to positive health outcomes. The increasing complexity of health care needs have amplified the demands for nurses in general practice. However, the GPN workforce is ageing with many GPNs approaching retirement. To ensure the GPN workforce has sufficient nurses to meet these demands it is important to understand how nurses new to practice perceive the role. To date, little is known about how undergraduate nursing students are prepared to work in this setting or their perceptions of general practice nursing as a career. Aim: This thesis explores final-year undergraduate nursing students’ perceptions of general practice nursing, and preparedness to work in general practice following graduation. Methods: This sequential explanatory mixed methods study encompassed an online cross sectional survey of final-year undergraduate nursing students, followed by telephone interviews with a subgroup of survey respondents. The survey comprised validated tools, modified for use in general practice, and investigator developed items. The modified Confidence and Interest in Critical Care Nursing (CICCN) tool(1) was used to determine predictors of confidence and interest to work in general practice. Intention to work in general practice was measured using the modified Attitudes, Subjective Norms, Perceived Behavioural Control, and Intention to pursue a career in Mental Health Nursing scale (ASPIRE) scale(2). Finally, the modified ‘Profession Scale’ from the Scale on Community Care Perceptions (SCOPE) tool(3) evaluated perceptions of the general practice work environment and characteristics important in choosing an employment setting. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Purposively selected surv