A qualitative study to understand the experience of burnout in general practitioners

: volume 1 and volume 2

Abstract

This research was undertaken when the NHS and general practice were reportedly in crisis, with GP-burnout discussed as part of the crisis. Whilst common parlance, there is a lack of evidence-based description or understanding of burnout in General Practitioners. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to integrate qualitative explorations with seven GPs, chosen as being best able to speak about burnout, in order to address this knowledge gap.

From “burning bright” at the start of their careers, burnout later developed; the GPs always feeling under pressure, families becoming affected, with the GPs’ energy fading. They seemed personally and professionally worn-out; their confidence and effectiveness reduced, appearing vulnerable, defensive and close to the limit of pressure they could take. They appeared weary of patients, with a dimmed outlook and no longer being re-energised by work. They were weary of being GPs; so different from when beginning burning bright. They appeared isolated, unsure of their futures and struggling to make sense of how things had come to be so bad. However, they still wanted to care well for their patients and were trying hard to do so.


Contributors to burnout were identified beyond and within the GPs’ personal influence, the latter including realisation of problems with their priorities of what was important in life. The main problem was how “being the GP” had come to dominate their lives.

The findings are timely because of Leiter and Maslach’s (2016) reconceptualisation of the Engagement-Burnout Continuum. This evidenced description and understanding may assist finding a means to identify burnout, presently lacking. The findings are also timely for the Profession in light of current organisational concerns at all levels, through better understanding of the problem. Individual GPs are encouraged to reflect upon their situation, paying attention to burnout prevention, particularly factors that lie within their own influence.

Date of Award	Mar 2018
Original language	English
Supervisor	George Kernohan (Supervisor), Patricia Gillen (Supervisor) & Derek McLaughlin (Supervisor)