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Psychological distress amongst GPs: who is at risk and how best to reach them?
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Psychological distress amongst GPs: who is at risk and how best to reach them?

Jackie Holt and Chris B Del Mar
Australian Family Physician, Vol.34(7), pp.599-602
2005
url
http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/200507/200507holt.pdfView
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Abstract

Public Health and Health Services Clinical Sciences
OBJECTIVE To identify key characteristics of psychologically distressed general practitioners and whether these GPs volunteered for a 'GP health' educational program. SETTING Eight Australian divisions of general practice responding to an invitation to participate in the research in 1999, representing 1356 GPs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), together with demographic and practice questions. DESIGN Observational study of GPs invited to participate in a voluntary education program on GP health offered through each division of general practice. PARTICIPANTS 819/1356 GPs responded to the baseline questionnaire (60%). Of these, 233/819 (28%) scored above the GHQ-12 threshold indicating psychological distress. Ninety GPs enrolled in the program, data were available for 69 GPs. RESULTS General practitioners who were identified as being psychologically distressed were over-represented in the 35-49 years age group (p=0.02) and were more likely to be the practice principal (p=0.04). Over 62% of enrolled GPs had scores that indicated none to mild distress. Of those GPs who were distressed, 42% were from the identified at risk age group, and 44% were practice principals. DISCUSSION Alternative targeted interventions may be needed to reach GPs with high levels of psychological distress.

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