Investigating the conditions in which women GPs thrive in General Practice: What works, for whom, how and in what circumstances?

Start date

November 2024

End date

April 2026

Overview

Women GPs, internationally, experienced greater mental health and wellbeing problems than male GPs. Women GPs typically spend longer with patients and take on more emotional labour, which may contribute to burnout and turnover. The lack of flexibility and support around part-time working and childcare provision often affects women GPs ability to take on wider responsibilities such a partner roles than male GPs. Whilst there is a global trend of increasing numbers of women training as doctors, this is not a group who appear to be thriving at work. To thrive at work means to have a positive psychological state; this can be influenced by individual and work-related factors. Evidence about how to create the conditions to thrive at work has not yet been translated into the general practice setting, nor to women GPs. This research aims to investigate the conditions in which women GPs work, and identify strategies that may help them to thrive in order to better recruit, support, and retain them. We will produce recommendations for how women GPs, managers, employers, policy makers, and training providers can more effectively support this staff group to thrive at work.

If you would like to hear more, or have an interest in becoming a stakeholder on this project, please contact Ruth: r.abrams@surrey.ac.uk

Funding amount

£269,364.54

Funder

Team

Further information

If you would like further information on this project, please email r.abrams@surrey.ac.uk or view the NIHR project page.