Abstract
BackgroundThe negative impact of work has been the traditional focus of GP surveys. We know little about GP positive mental health and psychological resources.AimTo profile and contextualise GP positive mental health and personal psychological resources.Design and settingCross-sectional survey of GPs working in Northern Ireland (NI).MethodA questionnaire comprising the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) and measures of resilience, optimism, self-efficacy, and hope, and sociodemographic information was posted to 400 GPs randomly selected from a publicly available GP register.ResultsThe response rate was 55% (n = 221 out of 400). Mean value for GP wellbeing (WEMWBS) was 50.2 (standard deviation [SD] 8) compared to UK vets 48.8 (SD 9), UK teachers 47.2 (SD 9), and the population of NI 50.8 (SD 9). After adjustment for confounding, mean WEMWBS was 2.4 units (95% CI = 0.02 to 4.7) higher in female GPs than males (P = 0.05), and 4.0 units (95% CI = 0.8 to 7.3) higher in GPs ≥55 years than GPs ≤44 years (P = 0.02). Optimism was 1.1 units higher in female GPs than male GPs (95% CI = 0.1 to 2.0), and 1.56 units higher in GPs ≥55 years (95% CI = 0.2 to 2.9) than in those ≤44 years. Hope was 3 units higher in GPs ≥55 years (95% CI = 0.4 to 5.7) than in those aged 45–54 years. Correlation between WEMWBS and psychological resources was highest with hope (r = 0.65, P < 0.001).ConclusionGPs have levels of positive mental health that are comparable to the local population and better than other occupational groups, such as vets and teachers. Male and younger GPs may have most to gain from wellbeing interventions.
Highlights
Increasing sub-specialism within secondary care and ongoing demographic shifts highlight the pivotal role that GPs are required to play in the provision of personalised patient care
After adjustment for confounding, mean Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) was 2.4 units higher in female GPs than males (P = 0.05), and 4.0 units higher in GPs ≥55 years than GPs ≤44 years (P = 0.02)
Optimism was 1.1 units higher in female GPs than male GPs, and 1.56 units higher in GPs ≥55 years than in those ≤44 years
Summary
Increasing sub-specialism within secondary care and ongoing demographic shifts highlight the pivotal role that GPs are required to play in the provision of personalised patient care. In the context of rising GP workload and workforce concerns, there is a need to explore the positive resources and strengths of GPs. In the context of rising GP workload and workforce concerns, there is a need to explore the positive resources and strengths of GPs This positive approach complements the traditional focus on illness, stress, depression, and burnout, as well as recognising GP resilience as a resource in the context of work pressures. The relationships are explored between GP positive mental health and their personal psychological resources. We know little about GP positive mental health and psychological resources
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