Workload pressures in rural general practice: a qualitative investigation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether there are workload pressures, as reported by healthcare professionals, which are unique to rural general practice.


METHODS
Semi-structured face-to-face interviews with staff from general practice teams located in different geographical areas.


METHODS
The north-east of Scotland (Grampian).


METHODS
16 GPs, 14 practice nurses, 9 practice managers and 14 administrative staff from 14 general practice teams.


METHODS
Recurrent themes were identified by the systematic analysis of interview transcripts.


RESULTS
Workload pressures experienced at aDl locations included continual change, increased volumes of administration and dealing with rising patient expectations. Workload pressures particular to rural areas were long periods on-call and difficulties in taking time off from the practice, the "specialist-generalist" role of rural practitioners and feelings of responsibility, including a pastoral role within the community.


CONCLUSIONS
Although some workload pressures exist regardless of location, rural practices appear to have some unique difficulties. Solutions which help practices cope with change and demand will be useful to both rural and urban practices. Staff from rural practices, however, also need location-specific solutions, such as those for reducing stress from being on-call for prolonged periods.
Iversen
Lisa
L
Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Foresterhill Health Centre, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. i.iversen@abdn.ac.uk
Farmer
Jane C
JC
Hannaford
Philip C
PC
D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012606:Scotland; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D016526:Workload