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Healthy doctor initiatives

General practitioner wellbeing

General practitioners dedicate their professional lives to the care of their patients, yet often find it difficult to recognise their own needs and practice self care. They are susceptible to high levels of stress which can manifest itself in symptoms of burnout, anxiety and depression which may impact their personal and professional lives; and potentially the quality of care they provide their patients.

A survey in Medical Observer (18 July 2008 edition) found that 40% of general practitioners (based on a nation wide representative sample of 359) reported high to severe levels of stress, with ongoing workforce shortages, bureaucratic red tape and reform acts cited as the main contributing factors. ¹

RACGP’s Healthy Doctor initiatives

The RACGP has taken a proactive role in addressing doctor health issues. A review commissioned by the RACGP in 2004 found that the major factors contributing to doctors’ emotional ill-health include personal characteristics associated with the choice of medicine as a career, the pressures of ongoing medical training and the occupational stress of medical practice. ²

The review highlighted some major concerns including:

• More than 53% of Australian GPs have considered leaving general practice because of work stress ³
• Standard mortality rates for mental disorders (including drug use and alcohol dependence) and suicide were considerably higher than expected among doctors ⁴
• GPs report the threat of potential litigation as a most severe stressor ³
• GPs rate too much work to do in a limited time, paperwork, and the cost of practice overheads as some of the most severe stressors ³
• GPs are concerned about patient-related violence and personal safety. ²

These findings are documented in A Conspiracy of Silence: emotional health among medical practitioners. (2004)

Supporting rural general practitioners

The GP Support Program is also available to rural, remote and regional general practitioners with face to face counselling available in over 200 rural and urban locations throughout Australia.

Many of the stressors associated with general practice can be heightened for rural general practitioners who may be frequently isolated from family and friends, and confronted with the occupational stress of heavy workloads that are not supported by other colleagues, with locums being difficult and expensive to maintain. ² When self employed, rural GPs are also more likely to take fewer holidays and less sick leave. They are also more likely to feel the social pressures and high community expectations of working in a small town, often as solo general practitioners, which may also compromise the emotional health of their family members as access to alternative medical services for themselves and their families is reduced. ²

For more information about RACGP’s Health Doctor initiatives and related resources and publications, visit www.racgp.org.au/healthydoctor

References

1. Bracey, A. We’re ignored and ready to walk. Medical Observer. 2008, 18 July: 1.
2. Clode D. The conspiracy of silence: emotional health among medical practitioners. South Melbourne: The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 2004.
3. Schattner, PL, Coman, GJ, The stress of metropolitan general practice. Med J Aust 1998;169:133-7.
4. Schlicht, SM, Gordon, IR et al. 1990, ‘Suicide and related deaths in Victorian doctors. Med J Aust 1990;153:518-21.

Last Modified: 1 September 2008
Authorised By: Membership