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Prevalence of burnout among German general practitioners: Comparison of physicians working in solo and group practices

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  • Annegret Dreher
  • Mirjam Theune
  • Christine Kersting
  • Franziska Geiser
  • Birgitta Weltermann

Abstract

Background: Studies from general practitioner (GP) populations from various European countries show a high prevalence of burnout, yet data from Germany are scarce and there are no data comparing GPs from solo versus group practices. Methods: This cross-sectional survey addressed all GPs from a German network of family medicine practices comprising 185 practices. Participants were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire addressing socio-demographic and job-related characteristics. The German version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to measure the dimensions emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA). Each participant was categorized as having high EE, high DP and low PA following pre-defined cut-offs. Results: A total of 214 GPs from 129 practices participated: 65.9% male, 24.8% solo practice. Of all GPs, 34.1% (n = 73) scored high for EE, 29.0% (n = 62) high for DP, 21.5% (n = 46) low for PA and 7.5% (n = 16) for all three dimensions. A higher risk for EE was found among female physicians, those unsatisfied with their job, those using few stress-regulating measures regularly and those reporting bad work-life balance. Burnout prevalence was higher in GPs in group than in solo practices (37.9% vs. 28.8% had high EE, 33.1% vs. 18.9% had high DP and 22.8% vs. 18.9% had low PA). A significantly higher prevalence of burnout symptoms was found in group practice employees compared to group practice owners. Conclusion: Burnout prevalence was higher among physicians in group practices compared to solo practices. In group practices, employed, young, female and part-time working physicians showed a higher burnout risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Annegret Dreher & Mirjam Theune & Christine Kersting & Franziska Geiser & Birgitta Weltermann, 2019. "Prevalence of burnout among German general practitioners: Comparison of physicians working in solo and group practices," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0211223
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211223
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    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.
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    1. Tamrat Anbesaw & Yosef Zenebe & Melkamu Abebe & Teshome Tegafaw, 2023. "Burnout Syndrome and Associated Factors Among Health Care Professionals Working in Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Dessie, Ethiopia," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    2. Arezoo Bozorgmehr & Anika Thielmann & Birgitta Weltermann, 2021. "Chronic stress in practice assistants: An analytic approach comparing four machine learning classifiers with a standard logistic regression model," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Elena Tsarouha & Christine Preiser & Birgitta Weltermann & Florian Junne & Tanja Seifried-Dübon & Felicitas Stuber & Sigrid Hartmann & Andrea Wittich & Monika A. Rieger & Esther Rind, 2020. "Work-Related Psychosocial Demands and Resources in General Practice Teams in Germany. A Team-Based Ethnography," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-19, September.

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