In the context of standardized training for general practitioners, the emphasis is still primarily on clinical skills, which does not fully encompass the overall development of general practitioners. This study implemented a practice-based learning and improvement (PBLI) project among students and evaluated its effectiveness based on indicators such as learning outcomes, students' subjective experiences, and annual grades. This study offers recommendations for optimizing general practitioners' teaching and residential training programs. 60 residents who participated in the regular training of general practitioners at the First Clinical College of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2019 to January 2022 were selected for this study. They were randomly divided into two groups, the PBLI group, and the control group, using a random number table method. Out of the 60 residents, 31 were assigned to the control group and 29 were assigned to the PBLI group. The participants in the PBLI group received additional PBLI training along with their daily residential training, while the participants in the control group only took part in the latter. The effectiveness of the PBLI program was analyzed by conducting a baseline survey, administering questionnaires, and evaluating examination results. After implementing the program, the PBLI group scored significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Throughout the implementation process, students in the PBLI group expressed high satisfaction with the learning project, particularly with its content and alignment with the training objective. The teacher's evaluation of the PBLI group students surpassed that of the control group in various areas, including literature retrieval, self-study, courseware development, speech ability, and clinical thinking. The PBLI program aims to encourage resident-centered study in standardized residency training. This approach is beneficial because it motivates students to engage in active learning and self-reflection, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of standardized residency training.