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The GP is the first point of contact for people with health complaints
Between 2010 and 2020, absenteeism due to illness among general practitioners increased from 3.2% to 5.6%. That is higher than the average of 4.9% for all economic sectors combined. Burnout in particular plays a role in this increase. General practitioner Nico Verhoef investigated which factors influence the development of burnout among general practitioners and what the most important consequences are for them. On Friday, February 2, 2024, he will defend his dissertation on this subject at the Open University in Heerlen.
The GP is the first point of contact for people with health complaints. He or she functions as a gatekeeper for access to the hospital. A strong gatekeeper position implies that general practitioners must be able to provide optimal care to their patients. However, this important social task faces a number of threats, one of which is the high risk of burnout. Relatively little is known about which factors influence this risk. This fact, together with the great social importance of well-functioning primary health care, prompted general practitioner Nico Verhoef to conduct his PhD research ‘Dutch General Practitioners and their Burnout: A study into its origins and consequences’.
Work pressure and management tasks increase the risk of burnout
The dissertation, which focuses on three different research questions, points out that workload and indirect patient care (management tasks, such as administration, etc.) are important factors that influence the development of burnout. The risk of burnout decreases when general practitioners collaborate more and focus mainly on working with patients. All these aspects also play a role in how much stress someone experiences in the work-life sphere.
The research also shows that emotional exhaustion in general practitioners in particular leads to absenteeism (sick and not at work) and presenteeism (sick but at work) in the event of burnout. Absenteeism is considered an emerging problem in primary care. Presenteeism leads to reduced quality of care. Not only is the risk of medical errors increasing, but also the associated disciplinary procedures.
Because it is likely that solo GPs, who are also responsible for all management tasks, have a higher risk of burnout, Verhoef recommends further research into the relationship between practice characteristics (solo, duo, group practice) and burnout. out.
Bron: Open University
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2024-01-18 07:00:10
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