Attitudes towards self-health care: a survey of GP trainees

The self-healthcare employed by doctors has been found to be less than ideal in studies from several different countries. The aim of this study was to explore the attitudes towards self-healthcare specifically among General Practitioner trainees who are in the early phases of their careers. A questionnaire was anonymously filled out by 100 trainees, which looked at areas such as lifestyle issues, prevention issues and health seeking behaviours. Results included that 30% of trainees had not been to a General Practitioner within the previous five years, 35% directly referred themselves to a consultant, 65% percent felt unable to take time off when ill and 92% self-prescribed medication on at least one occasion. Almost half of the participants felt they neglected their own health (49%). Trainees appear to be following the same trends that have been reported among older/ established doctors in other studies. There is a need to highlight and improve awareness about self-healthcare from early on in a doctor's career as the implications for reduced health and well-being of a doctor can be serious for themselves and their patients.