GP wellbeing and general practice issues.
BACKGROUND
Studies of general practitioner wellbeing have demonstrated remarkably consistent findings. However, the implications for day-to-day general practice have been unclear. This study was based on a survey comprising items extracted from transcripts of interviews with GPs and designed to link general practice issues with self reported wellbeing.


METHODS



METHODS
480 GP Australian Family Physician (AFP) subscribers (2.18% response rate); aged 26-81 years (mean 45.5 years); 273 (56.9%) men and 199 (43.1%) women.


METHODS
A survey insert in AFP September 2003 with questions about wellbeing, demographic details and 27 items about general practice issues.


RESULTS
Almost 15% reported poor/very poor wellbeing, 47% reported good wellbeing and 38% reported very good/excellent wellbeing. Poor wellbeing was associated with being single, divorced or widowed, and reports of being alone in an adversarial context and more negative reactions to patients. Excellent or very good wellbeing was associated with being coupled and reports of general practice as a vocation.


CONCLUSIONS
Targeted wellbeing strategies advocating social support may ameliorate the stress of general practice, especially for those GPs who are single.
Murfett
Amanda
A
School of Psychology, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria.
Charman
Denise
D
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace