GP perceptions of informal peer support in primary care: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Burnout is on the rise among GPs in the UK. One approach to mitigating burnout in GPs is through informal peer support (IPS). This refers to GPs informally supporting each other on an informational (advice) and emotional (venting and reflection) basis.

AIM

To explore GPs' perceptions of how IPS manifests in the primary care setting and what factors influence effective GP engagement with IPS.

DESIGN & SETTING

A qualitative study utilising semi-structured interviews to develop an in-depth understanding of GPs' perceptions of IPS, based on their experiences in practices across England.

METHOD

Fifteen GPs were purposively sampled to include the views of locum, salaried, and trainee GPs and GP partners. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four types of IPS were identified relating to emotional support, professional advice, sharing of workload, and mentorship, which reflect existing literature. The frequency and efficacy of IPS was found to be influenced by several factors categorised into individual traits, practice culture, and occupation.

CONCLUSION

The results highlight where efforts should be directed to improve GP engagement with IPS. Specifically, GP leaders have an important role in shaping practice culture and fostering an environment for IPS to occur. Practices may also benefit from introducing professional development measures targeted at training GPs to better support each other based on their individual traits.

Breaking down walls: modelling engagement with peer support in GPs

BACKGROUND

GPs in the UK are at increasing risk of burnout. Peer support (PS) is defined as resources provided by colleagues, such as informational or emotional support, which is either organisationally mandated (formal) or informal. PS has been described in the literature as a method of mitigating burnout. However, little is known about how GPs support one another and what optimises PS in primary care.

AIM

To explore what PS looks like between GPs and the moderators of PS in primary care.

METHOD

Fifteen GPs across England were purposively sampled to collect perspectives from locum and salaried GPs and GP partners. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Five major forms of PS in primary care were identified, relating to the emotional support, professional advice, sharing of workload, mentorship, and personal interactions GPs provided each other with. Four moderators of peer support were described: individual traits, interpersonal relationships, practice-specific (relating to the working culture within a specific practice), and occupational factors (intrinsic to primary care).

CONCLUSION

This qualitative research fills a literature gap regarding moderating factors for engaging with PS in GPs and highlights the unique interactions of these factors. The proposition of a novel model to visualise the interplay of moderators provides basis for evidence-based interventions to test, target, and facilitate better PS in primary care.