Peer counsellors' views on the collegial support scheme for doctors

The health condition and health-related behaviour of doctors are important to the doctors themselves as well as for their treatment of patients. The collegial support scheme is a county-based and easily accessible health and care service for doctors. We therefore wanted to describe the framework and functions of this scheme and examine its utility.

Fourteen focus-group interviews with a total of 61 peer counsellors from all the counties were conducted. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed with the aid of systematic text condensation.

The framework--easy accessibility, a readily available offer of up to three sessions, a high degree of confidentiality and informal contact--was emphasised as crucial for doctors to make use of the scheme. The peer counsellors described their role as that of a listener and supportive helper. They helped bring clarity and discuss possible needs for further follow-up or treatment of numerous different and frequently complex issues. The peer counsellors highlighted three benefits in particular: the scheme helps raise awareness by legitimising help-seeking behaviour among doctors, it is a contingency scheme, and it eases the burden by lowering the threshold to seeking out further advice and treatment.

A systematic evaluation of the collegial support scheme is important for an understanding of the totality of the collegial health and care services. The collegial support scheme may lower the threshold to seeking help, and encourage some doctors to seek necessary treatment.