title: Open Access to General Practice Was Associated with Burnout among General Practitioners.
abstract: Walk-in open access in general practice may influence the general practitioner's (GP's) work, but very little research has been done on the consequences. In this study from Danish general practice, we compare the prevalence of burnout between GPs with a walk-in open access and those without. In a questionnaire study (2004), we approached all 458 active GPs in the county of Aarhus, Denmark, and 376 (82.8%) GPs returned the questionnaire. Walk-in open access was defined as at least 30 minutes every weekday where patients could attend practice without an appointment. Burnout was measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Analyses using logistic regression were adjusted for gender, age, marital status, job satisfaction, minutes per consultation, practice organisation, working hours, number of listed patients per GP, number of contacts per GP, continuing medical education- (CME-) activities, and clusters of GPs. In all, 8% of GPs had open access and the prevalence of burnout was 24%. GPs with walk-in open access were more likely to suffer from burnout. Having open access was associated with a 3-fold increased likelihood of burnout (OR = 3.1 (95% CI: 1.1-8.8, P = 0.035)). Although the design cannot establish causality, it is recommended to closely monitor possible negative consequences of open access in general practice.
authors: The Research Unit for General Practice, Institute of Public Health, Aarhus University, Bartholins Alle 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Vedsted
authors: Ineta
authors: I
authors: Sokolowski
authors: Frede
authors: F
authors: Olesen
references: Br J Gen Pract. 2006 Oct;56(531):743-8
references: 17007703
references: Psychother Psychosom. 2000 Nov-Dec;69(6):329-34
references: 11070446
references: Am J Med. 2001 Aug;111(2):170-5
references: 11498074
references: Annu Rev Psychol. 2001;52:397-422
references: 11148311
references: Aust Fam Physician. 1997 Jul;26(7):787-9
references: 9232917
references: Nurs Health Sci. 2006 Dec;8(4):201-7
references: 17081145
references: Br J Gen Pract. 2007 Aug;57(541):608-14
references: 17688754
references: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Nov;195(5):1444-9
references: 17074551
references: Br J Gen Pract. 2008 Jan;58(546):15-9
references: 18186991
references: Ann Intern Med. 2001 Jul 17;135(2):145-8
references: 11453722
references: J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Jul;16(7):452-9
references: 11520382
references: Ann Intern Med. 2008 Jun 17;148(12):915-22
references: 18559842
references: Health Serv Manage Res. 2007 May;20(2):134-9
references: 17524225
references: Br J Gen Pract. 2006 Dec;56(533):918-23
references: 17132379
references: J Clin Psychol. 1986 May;42(3):488-92
references: 3711351
references: Br J Gen Pract. 2004 May;54(502):334-40
references: 15113514
references: Health Care Manage Rev. 2005 Jul-Sep;30(3):220-8
references: 16093888
references: J Clin Oncol. 2003 Jul 1;21(13):2616-9
references: 12829683
references: Swiss Med Wkly. 2005 Feb 19;135(7-8):101-8
references: 15832226
references: Fam Pract. 2006 Apr;23(2):233-9
references: 16364952
references: Fam Pract. 2008 Aug;25(4):245-65
references: 18622012
references: Br J Gen Pract. 2007 Aug;57(541):615-21
references: 17688755
references: Health Care Manag Sci. 2007 Jun;10(2):111-24
references: 17608053
references: J Behav Med. 1995 Dec;18(6):581-99
references: 8749987