Graduate training in family medicine: two years or three?

Graduate training in family medicine is a three year program in the United States and a two year program in Canada. For the majority of family practice residents the third year is required in order to consolidate the attitudes and skills related to continuing comprehensive health care and prevention. Without this consolidation, the application of these concepts to the practice of family health care is subject to the normal anxieties, frustrations and uncertanties which lead physicians to provide technologically oriented, episodic care.