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Biomedical subjects

U Rout

Publications and source records attributed to U Rout.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

GP job satisfaction in 1987, 1990 and 1998: lessons for the future?

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction is an important determinant of physician retention and turnover, and may also affect performance. Objective. Our aim was to investigate changes in GP job satisfaction from 1987 to 1998, covering a period of major change in the organization of British general practice. METHODS: Postal surveys of random national samples of GPs were carried out by separate groups of investigators in 1987, 1990 and 1998. In each survey, the questionnaire contained a standardized job satisfaction scale and a list of 14 job stressors. The final samples consisted of 1817 GPs in 1987 (response rate 45%), 917 GPs in 1990 (response rate 61%) and 1828 GPs in 1998 (response rate 49%). RESULTS: For both men and women, overall job satisfaction declined from 1987 to 1990 and then improved from 1990 to 1998, although satisfaction in 1998 remained below that in 1987. Women tended to report higher levels of satisfaction than men in all 3 years. Satisfaction with nine specific aspects of work showed dissimilar patterns of change over time. From 1987 to 1990, reported levels of stress increased for eight of 14 job stressors. Of these, three subsequently declined in 1998, two remained unchanged and three continued to increase. Of the six job stressors which showed no change from 1987 to 1990, five subsequently increased as sources of stress. Men and women differed in their sources of stress, but the differences were not consistent over time. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that GP job satisfaction has improved significantly from the low point reached following the introduction of the 1990/1991 NHS reforms, although reported levels of stress in relation to many aspects of work have continued to increase. The changes are discussed within the context of wider research into the determinants of GP job satisfaction in order to anticipate the likely effects on GPs of future organizational reforms.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Job stress among general practitioners and nurses in primary care in England.

This is a description comparing job stress, job satisfaction, and mental well-being of general practitioners (n = 205) and practice nurses (n = 119) in England, based on responses to a questionnaire. General practitioners reported lower job satisfaction and significantly greater pressure at work than did the practice nurses. Also, male general practitioners had significantly higher scores on anxiety and depression than a British normative population. Practice nurses, on the other hand, reported lower scores on anxiety and depression. The results should be interpreted with caution as the study is based on a small sample limited to the northwest region only; however, it does provide information which has important implications for the well-being of doctors and nurses in primary care.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Diagnosis and treatment of depression by general practitioners in England.

This paper describes a preliminary study of diagnosis and treatment of depression by general practitioners in England. They regarded primary care depression as a reactive mood disorder with both physical and psychological symptoms and associated with those groups who are most vulnerable to life stressors. Four groups were seen as at risk from depression: elderly persons, menopausal women, young mothers, and those in early adulthood. The practitioners relied primarily on their experience to diagnose depression rather than following any official diagnostic criteria. Although they were in favour of nondrug therapy in treating depression, they mainly practised drug therapy due to time pressure and limited availability of resources.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Stress among general practitioners and their spouses: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Although research has been carried out on stress in general practitioners, little is known about the stresses experienced by their spouses. AIM: This study was undertaken to identify specific pressures at work and at home experienced by general practitioners and their spouses and to highlight their coping strategies. METHOD: In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 general practitioners and their spouses in the north-west of England. RESULTS: The doctors' increased workload and decreased interest in their family are important stressors for the entire family unit. Other stressors include time pressure, out-of-hours on-call, lack of support and amount of paperwork. General practitioners work late in the surgery, bring work home and spend time away from home at meetings. Family life is constantly interrupted by telephone calls. Role conflict was one of the major sources of stress for women general practitioners. Doctors' wives expressed concern regarding their husbands' excessive commitment to work and problems with communication. CONCLUSION: Recent changes to contractual working conditions have caused general practitioners to focus their energies on their practice instead of paying attention to the needs of their family. Male general practitioners leave the bulk of responsibility for running the family and household to their wives, but women general practitioners appear to maintain domestic responsibility while spending as much time in medical practice as their male colleagues. This is only an exploratory study based on a small sample, and so the findings cannot be generalized; however, it provides in-depth information on stress among general practitioners and their spouses.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Job satisfaction, mental health and job stress among general practitioners before and after the new contract--a comparative study.

In order to compare measures of job satisfaction, mental health and job stress among general practitioners (GPs), the results of a 1993 survey were compared with that obtained in the previous study in 1987. Eight-hundred and fifty GPs were selected at random by seven Family Health Service Authorities in England, 380 of whom returned questionnaires suitable for statistical analysis. There were significant differences between the 1987 and 1993 surveys. GPs experienced less job satisfaction, poorer mental health and more stress in 1993 than in 1987. These changes may have occurred as a result of the introduction of the new contract.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Occupational stress amongst care staff working in nursing homes: an empirical investigation.

A questionnaire survey of care staff in nursing homes examined staff stress. Staff completed questionnaires covering Type A behaviour, job satisfaction, psychological well-being, relaxation behaviour, coping skills and demographic details. A specific measure of nursing home stress was developed following a pilot study. From a total sample of 375, 112 (30%) responses were obtained. On the stress questionnaire the major stressors were found to be 'unsatisfactory wages', 'shortage of essential resources', 'not enough staff per shift', 'feeling undervalued by management', 'lifting heavy patients' and 'working with colleagues who are happy to let others do the work'. Factor analysis of stress questionnaire responses identified five major stress groupings. These were, 'differing expectations about patient care', 'management factors', 'lack of support from other staff', 'feeling inadequately trained to deal with job demands' and 'home-work conflicts'. Examination of stress outcomes showed that many staff were under pressure, with high levels of smoking and alcohol intake. Given the increasing importance of nursing home care for the elderly the present study is timely. The implications of the findings for further research, and for the training of staff in nursing homes are considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Mental health, job satisfaction, and job stress among general practitioners.

OBJECTIVE: To identify sources of job stress associated with high levels of job dissatisfaction and negative mental wellbeing among general practitioners in England. DESIGN: Multivariate analysis of large database of general practitioners compiled from results of confidential questionnaire survey. Data obtained on independent variables of job stress, demographic factors, and personality. Dependent variables were mental health, job satisfaction, alcohol consumption, and smoking. SETTING: National sample of general practitioners studied by university department of organisational psychology. SUBJECTS: One thousand eight hundred seventeen general practitioners selected at random by 20 family practitioner committees in England. INTERVENTIONS: None. END POINT: Determination of the combination of independent variables that were predictive of mental health and job satisfaction. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Women general practitioners both had job satisfaction and showed positive signs of mental wellbeing in contrast with other normative groups. Conversely, male doctors showed significantly higher anxiety scores than the norms, had less job satisfaction, and drank more alcohol than their women counterparts. Multivariate analysis disclosed four job stressors that were predictive of high levels of job dissatisfaction and lack of mental wellbeing; these were demands of the job and patients' expectations, interference with family life, constant interruptions at work and home, and practice administration. CONCLUSIONS: There may be substantial benefit in providing a counselling service for general practitioners and other health care workers who suffer psychological pressure from their work.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Job satisfaction and occupational stress among general practitioners--a pilot study.

Questionnaires assessing levels of job satisfaction and possible sources of stress were distributed to a random sample of general practitioners in the Greater Manchester area. The highest levels of job satisfaction were reported for ;intrinsic' job factors such as freedom to choose method of working, amount of responsibility and amount of variety, rather than ;extrinsic' factors such as rate of pay and hours of work. The main causes of stress appeared to be interruptions of various kinds. Factor analysis revealed four major sources of stress: interruptions; emotional involvement; administrative workload and work/home interface; and routine medical work. Of these, all but routine medical work were associated with job satisfaction. It is concluded that the major sources of stress for the general practitioner are not medical, but social.

Adult↗