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Investigating stresses in general practice using an open-ended approach in interviews
1Department of Clinical Epidemiology and General Practice, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, England.
Family Practice
|June 1, 1990
Summary
This study explored general practitioner (GP) stress in London using qualitative interviews. The emic approach uncovered unique, subject-generated stress factors, offering insights for future research.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Qualitative Health Research
Background:
- General practitioners (GPs) face significant occupational stress.
- Understanding GP stress is crucial for healthcare system well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the perceived stresses experienced by London-based general practitioners.
- To explore the utility of the 'emic' (unstructured) interview methodology in uncovering these stresses.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an 'emic' (unstructured) interview technique with 30 general practitioners in London.
- Emphasized 'free-flowing' and 'open-ended' data collection to capture subjective experiences.
- Focused on obtaining the doctors' own perceptions of their work-related stresses.
Main Results:
- The 'emic' approach successfully uncovered stresses not typically revealed through structured methods.
- Doctor-generated stress accounts provided unique, narrative-based insights into their experiences.
- The methodology facilitated the surfacing of previously unacknowledged stressors.
Conclusions:
- The 'emic' interview technique is effective for revealing subjective and often hidden occupational stresses.
- Findings from this preliminary study can inform more structured investigations into GP stress.
- Qualitative, narrative data offers a rich understanding of the human experience of professional stress.