Psychological distress among GPs--who is at risk and how best to reach them?
OBJECTIVE
To identify key characteristics of psychologically distressed general practitioners and whether these GPs volunteered for a "GP health" educational program.


METHODS
Eight Australian divisions of general practice responding to an invitation to participate in the research in 1999, representing 1356 GPs.


METHODS
The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), together with demographic and practice questions.


METHODS
Observational study of GPs invited to participate in a voluntary education program on GP health offered through each division of general practice.


METHODS
819/1356 GPs responded to the baseline questionnaire (60%). Of these, 233/819 (28%) scored above the GHQ-12 threshold indicating psychological distress. Ninety GPs enrolled in the program, data were available for 69 GPs.


RESULTS
General practitioners who were identified as being psychologically distressed were over-represented in the 35-49 years age group (p=0.02) and were more likely to be the practice principal (p=0.04). Over 62% of enrolled GPs had scores that indicated none to mild distress. Of those GPs who were distressed, 42% were from the identified at risk age group, and 44% were practice principals.


CONCLUSIONS
Alternative targeted interventions may be needed to reach GPs with high levels of psychological distress.
Ripplemakers, Queensland, Australia. ripplemakers@bigpond.com
Jackie
J
Holt
Chris
C
Del Mar
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*