Job dissatisfaction and burnout may be behind exodus of GPs
Burnout and job dissatisfaction are likely to be key drivers influencing GPs鈥� decisions to leave patient care within the next five years, University of 蝌蚪窝视频 researchers have found.
The academics for the first time, identified how GPs in England are becoming less engaged with their work 鈥� and how these signs often follow one after the other, ultimately leading to the decision to quit.
The study published in and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research () School of Primary Care Research (SPCR) and Greater 蝌蚪窝视频 Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC), helps explain the current GP workforce crisis.
While there is substantial evidence both internationally and within the UK of a growing exodus of GPs, until now we did not fully understand the warning signs or how they are linked.
Of 351 GPs from 57 practices surveyed via an online questionnaire, up to one in three GPs experienced symptoms of burnout (27%) and expressed a moderate to high intention to quit patient care within the next five years (33%).
Also from the study, one in five (19%) GPs reported low job satisfaction, two in five (41%) indicated poor work-life balance, and up to one in four (27%) reported working while unwell over the past year.
Further analysis showed that symptoms of burnout and low job satisfaction were the factors most directly linked to GPs鈥� intentions to leave their roles, even when other work-related factors were taken into account.
The findings suggest that burnout and job dissatisfaction are key drivers influencing GPs鈥� decisions to leave patient care within the next five years.
Other signs of work disengagement 鈥� such as working while unwell or having a poor work-life balance 鈥� were more indirectly linked to quitting, often through their effect on burnout and low job satisfaction.
We found that job dissatisfaction and burnout are likely to be immediate signals that GPs are at high risk of quitting direct patient care. Poor work-life balance and working while unwell were also indirectly linked. This is why there is an urgent need to address these issues if we are to improve GP retention. If we do not, primary care may face unprecedented difficulties
Lead author Dr Christos Grigoroglou, a health economist from The University of 蝌蚪窝视频, said:
鈥淲e found that job dissatisfaction and burnout are likely to be immediate signals that GPs are at high risk of quitting direct patient care. Poor work-life balance and working while unwell were also indirectly linked.
鈥淭his is why there is an urgent need to address these issues if we are to improve GP retention. If we do not, primary care may face unprecedented difficulties.鈥�
The study authors suggested strategies including fair compensation, professional development, and a supportive work environment as ways to enhance job satisfaction.
Organisational support around time and resources to implement stress management programmes and mental health support could also help improve job satisfaction, reduce burnout, and retain GPs.
Preventative measures such as flexible working and fostering a supportive culture that encourages taking sick leave without stigma could improve work-life balance and reduce the tendency to work when unwell.
Principal investigator, psychologist Professor Maria Panagioti, said: 鈥淭hese findings highlight that GP retention policies should incorporate job satisfaction and wellbeing as core strategies to retain GPs.
鈥淎dditionally, improving work-life balance and reducing working while unwell can serve as effective early preventative measures to reduce burnout and job dissatisfaction 鈥� and in turn, help retain GPs.鈥�
Associations between burnout and career disengagement factors among general practitioners: a path analysis is available