Emotional distress, occupational stress and burnout among Family Doctors in Europe: Monitoring and testing of interventions is required

Abstract

In recent years, the medical literature from a wide range of medical specialities has exploded with publications on the theme of emotional distress, stress and burnout in the practice of medicine. Improving the work-life of health care providers is necessary to optimise health system performance. COVID-19 has caused considerable additional pressure on health services across Europe and there have been calls for interventions to address the psychological and occupational stress caused by the pandemic. Although there is an ongoing need to monitor these factors among family physicians, and other staff working in primary care across Europe, we must also identify supports and promote them. Further research is needed to explore causative factors and provide convincing evidence in relation to effective interventions.

Keywords:

• General practice/family medicine
• stress
• burnout
• emotional distress
• intervention

Disclosure statement

Andree Rochfort is a practicing GP in Ireland and has 20 years’ experience as the Director of the Doctor’s Health Programme in the ICGP. This includes a focus on the human factors affecting patient healthcare and related quality improvement activities.

Claire Collins is the Director of Research and Innovation in the ICGP and is involved in a range of quality improvement and research activities related to general practitioners and their patients.

Jako Burgers is a practicing practicing primary care physician in the Netherlands and is a Senior Consultant at the Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG) with an interest in quality and patient safety.