Research
Research themes
Current project – Thriving or just surviving? Monitoring wellbeing in the GP/RG supervision community
The wellbeing and satisfaction of our supervision community is among GPSA’s highest priorities. As such, we’ve been monitoring burnout and selfcare in the GP/RG supervision community for the past three years. In 2022, we found that over 70% of supervisors had high levels of burnout, which was associated with lower levels of selfcare (see the 2022 National supervision survey report). In 2023, we delved deeper to understand the connection between wellbeing and satisfaction. Although burnout remained high, GPs who believed in the positive impact of their work in the community were less susceptible to burnout (see the 2023 National supervision survey report). Recently, in 2024, we replicated these findings and found that workplace support for selfcare, personal selfcare practices, and belief in the prosocial value of one’s work, protected against burnout (see the 2024 National supervision survey report). These findings have important policy implications to ensure that the values that attract medical doctors to general practice and GP supervision are satisfied and supported.
Current project – Everyone needs their own GP – including GPs
For GPs living in rural and remote communities, getting access to a GP, let alone one that doesn’t know you personally, can be a significant barrier to proactively engaging with the health system. To address this unmet need, GPSA is partnering with several key organisations to evaluate programs designed to support GP health and wellbeing.
Doctors Health outreach programs
Planning is well underway to evaluate the effects of a GP health outreach program – which offers face-to-face access to primary care for GPs in rural and remote locations – on lifestyle, mental and physical health, and safe work practices.
Wellbeing workshops
Our research shows that when GP supervisors believe that their work has value (i.e., providing a sense of meaning and purpose), they are less likely to experience burnout. Similar findings connecting value fulfilment to reduced risk of burnout were recently reported in a large Australia sample of Australian GPs (Prentice et al., 2023). This evidence-based project is evaluating the impact of Dr Shaun Prentice and A/Prof Jillian Benson’s ‘wellbeing workshops’, on GPs’ connection with their values and psychological wellbeing. This study was approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (project number #44888) and is registered with the ANZCTR (ACTRN12624001197527p)
A report of findings will be available in 2025.
Recent project – Pastoral Care for Registrar Placements
GP registrars require access to mental health and well-being support throughout their training. Practice staff including supervisors may be well positioned to provide this; however, there is limited clarity about how well-being is interpreted for registrars and training practice staff as well as responsibilities and resources required for effective implementation.
In this project, GPSA explored the perspectives of general practice managers, supervisors and GP registrars about their perception of well-being support in GP training and how it can optimally be provided to meet the needs of registrars.
This study was approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (project number 35523).
Having examined the experiences of the GP training sector, as providers and recipients of wellbeing support, and analysed this data, GPSA ran a workshop at the GP Medical Education conference to identify strategies for improving guidance regarding the scope and responsibilities associated with this role (read about our findings here.)
Findings thus far were presented as a poster at the WONCA World Family Medicine Conference in October 2023.
RESEARCH TRANSLATION
2023 National Survey Report
2023 National Survey Report
2022 National Survey Report
2022 National Survey Report
According to GPSA’s national survey of its members, GP supervisors who feel well-supported in their workplace, avoid working when unwell, and practise self-care have lower levels of burnout and are more likely to remain in GP training for the next 5 years.
GPSA surveyed GP supervisors in March-April 2022 and found that over 70% of GP supervisors had high levels of burnout, which was associated with lower levels of engagement in selfcare activities (including professional support, professional development, life balance, cognitive awareness, and daily balance). Younger GP supervisors were at greater risk of burnout.
Working while unwell and the belief that selfcare/wellbeing could be better supported in the workplace predicted high levels of burnout. In contrast, GP supervisors who intended to supervise for the next 5 years and were engaged in professional development were much less likely to experience burnout.
Date reviewed: 22 November 2024
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