RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Barriers, facilitators, and survival strategies for GPs seeking treatment for distress: a qualitative study
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP e700
OP e708
DO 10.3399/bjgp17X692573
VO 67
IS 663
A1 Johanna Spiers
A1 Marta Buszewicz
A1 Carolyn A Chew-Graham
A1 Clare Gerada
A1 David Kessler
A1 Nick Leggett
A1 Chris Manning
A1 Anna Kathryn Taylor
A1 Gail Thornton
A1 Ruth Riley
YR 2017
UL http://bjgp.org/content/67/663/e700.abstract
AB Background GPs are under increasing pressure due to a lack of resources, a diminishing workforce, and rising patient demand. As a result, they may feel stressed, burnt out, anxious, or depressed.Aim To establish what might help or hinder GPs experiencing mental distress as they consider seeking help for their symptoms, and to explore potential survival strategies.Design and setting The authors recruited 47 GP participants via e-mails to doctors attending a specialist service, adverts to local medical committees (LMCs) nationally and in GP publications, social media, and snowballing. Participants self-identified as either currently living with mental distress, returning to work following treatment, off sick or retired early as a result of mental distress, or without experience of mental distress. Interviews were conducted face to face or over the telephone.Method Transcripts were uploaded to NVivo 11 and analysed using thematic analysis.Results Barriers and facilitators were related to work, stigma, and symptoms. Specifically, GPs discussed feeling a need to attend work, the stigma surrounding mental ill health, and issues around time, confidentiality, and privacy. Participants also reported difficulties accessing good-quality treatment. GPs also talked about cutting down or varying work content, or asserting boundaries to protect themselves.Conclusion Systemic changes, such as further information about specialist services designed to help GPs, are needed to support individual GPs and protect the profession from further damage.