The stress of metropolitan general practice

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• General Practice Medicine
• Psychological Stress

Background:

• Work-related stressors significantly impact general practitioners (GPs) in metropolitan Australia.
• Understanding these stressors is crucial for improving GP well-being and practice sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the work-related stressors experienced by Australian metropolitan general practitioners (GPs).
• To assess the frequency, severity, and impact of these stressors on GPs' work satisfaction and overall life stress.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive postal survey was conducted among randomly selected metropolitan GPs across Australia.
• Data collected included the frequency and severity of stressors, overall stress levels, impact on job satisfaction, and responses to the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ).

Main Results:

• Time pressure was the most frequent stressor, while the threat of litigation was perceived as the most severe.
• Work itself was identified as the major stressor, with 50% of GPs considering leaving their workplace and 53% contemplating leaving general practice.
• Full-time GPs (working ≥6 sessions/week) reported higher stress levels than part-time GPs.

Conclusions:

• Frequent and severe stressors in general practice, particularly time pressures, have significant implications for GP well-being.
• Government remuneration policies may inadvertently contribute to excessive workloads and stress.
• Urgent strategies are needed to manage and prevent occupational stress among metropolitan GPs.