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Job Satisfaction and Chronic Stress of General Practitioners and Their Teams: Baseline Data of a Cluster-Randomised Trial (IMPROVE job )

Author

Listed:
  • Lukas Degen

    (Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany)

  • Karen Linden

    (Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany)

  • Tanja Seifried-Dübon

    (Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Osianderstraße 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany)

  • Brigitte Werners

    (Institute of Management, Operations Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany)

  • Matthias Grot

    (Institute of Management, Operations Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany)

  • Esther Rind

    (Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Wilhelmstr. 27, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany)

  • Claudia Pieper

    (Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Anna-Lisa Eilerts

    (Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Verena Schroeder

    (Center for Clinical Trials, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany)

  • Stefanie Kasten

    (Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany)

  • Manuela Schmidt

    (Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany)

  • Julian Goebel

    (Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany)

  • Monika A. Rieger

    (Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tuebingen, Wilhelmstr. 27, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany)

  • Birgitta M. Weltermann

    (Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany)

  • on behalf of the IMPROVEjob Consortium

    (Collaborators of the IMPROVE job Consortium are indicated in the Acknowledgments section.)

Abstract

Background : A high prevalence of poor job satisfaction and high chronic stress is documented for general practitioners (GPs) and non-physician practice staff from various countries. The reasons are multifactorial and include deficits in leadership, communication and workflows. This publicly funded study evaluates the effectiveness of the newly developed participatory, interdisciplinary, and multimodal IMPROVE job intervention on improving job satisfaction among GPs and practice personnel. Here, we report the baseline characteristics of the participating GPs and practice assistants, focusing on job satisfaction and perceived chronic stress. Methods : The IMPROVE job study was performed as a cluster-randomised, controlled trial (cRCT) with German GP practices in the North Rhine Region. The IMPROVE job intervention comprised two leadership workshops (one for practice leaders only; a second for leaders and practice assistants), a toolbox with supplemental printed and online material, and a nine-month implementation phase supported by IMPROVE job facilitators. The intervention addressed issues of leadership, communication, and work processes. During study nurse visits, participants completed questionnaires at baseline and after nine months follow up. The primary outcome was the change in job satisfaction as measured by the respective scale of the validated German version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (German COPSOQ, version 2018). Perceived chronic stress was measured using the Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress (TICS- SSCS). Results : Recruitment of 60 practices was successful: 21 were solo, 39 were group practices. At baseline, n = 84 practice owners, n = 28 employed physicians and n = 254 practice assistants were included. The mean age of all participants was 44.4 (SD = 12.8). At baseline, the job satisfaction score in the total sample was 74.19 of 100 (±14.45) and the perceived chronic stress score was 19.04 of 48 (±8.78). Practice assistants had a significantly lower job satisfaction than practice owners ( p < 0.05) and employed physicians ( p < 0.05). In the regression analysis, perceived chronic stress was negatively associated with job satisfaction (b= −0.606, SE b = 0.082, p < 0.001, ICC = 0.10). Discussion : The degree of job satisfaction was similar to those in other medical professionals published in studies, while perceived chronic stress was markedly higher compared to the general German population. These findings confirm the need for interventions to improve psychological wellbeing in GP practice personnel.

Suggested Citation

  • Lukas Degen & Karen Linden & Tanja Seifried-Dübon & Brigitte Werners & Matthias Grot & Esther Rind & Claudia Pieper & Anna-Lisa Eilerts & Verena Schroeder & Stefanie Kasten & Manuela Schmidt & Julian , 2021. "Job Satisfaction and Chronic Stress of General Practitioners and Their Teams: Baseline Data of a Cluster-Randomised Trial (IMPROVE job )," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-13, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9458-:d:631200
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anja Viehmann & Christine Kersting & Anika Thielmann & Birgitta Weltermann, 2017. "Prevalence of chronic stress in general practitioners and practice assistants: Personal, practice and regional characteristics," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Jan Hoffmann & Christine Kersting & Birgitta Weltermann, 2020. "Practice assistants´ perceived mental workload: A cross-sectional study with 550 German participants addressing work content, stressors, resources, and organizational structure," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-12, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Julian Göbel & Manuela Schmidt & Tanja Seifried-Dübon & Karen Linden & Lukas Degen & Esther Rind & Anna-Lisa Eilerts & Claudia Pieper & Matthias Grot & Brigitte Werners & Verena Schröder & Karl-Heinz , 2022. "Higher Work-Privacy Conflict and Lower Job Satisfaction in GP Leaders and Practice Assistants Working Full-Time Compared to Part-Time: Results of the IMPROVE job Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Anke Wagner & Brigitte Werners & Claudia Pieper & Anna-Lisa Eilerts & Tanja Seifried-Dübon & Matthias Grot & Florian Junne & Birgitta M. Weltermann & Monika A. Rieger & Esther Rind, 2023. "Exploring Transfer Potentials of the IMPROVE job Intervention for Strengthening Workplace Health Management in Micro-, Small-, and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Germany: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Kristin Lork & Kristina Holmgren & Jenny Hultqvist, 2021. "Does the Number of Reasons for Seeking Care and Self-Rated Health Predict Sick Leave during the Following 12 Months? A Prospective, Longitudinal Study in Swedish Primary Health Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Ido Morag & Efrat Kedmi-Shahar & Dana Arad, 2023. "Remote Communications between Patients and General Practitioners: Do Patients Choose the Most Effective Communication Routes?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(24), pages 1-19, December.

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