Support for General Practitoners During Covid-19.
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Evidence of initiatives to support General Practitioners (GPs) during the Covid-19 pandemic is scant. AIM: To understand the impact of a novel method of providing support in the early stages of the pandemic. DESIGN AND SETTING: A mixed-methods study of GPs working in a socially deprived area of Belfast. METHOD: A survey was distributed to GPs who had attended a series of educational meetings at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey incorporated the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and questions about the virtual meetings. Follow-up interviews were undertaken with five GPs to further explore their lived experiences and their perceptions of the virtual support forum. RESULTS: ). CONCLUSION: The virtual meetings harnessed the instinct to come together witnessed at the beginning of the pandemic, and as well as sharing valuable information, also provided emotional support along with a sense of comradeship, ownership and autonomy. HOW THIS FITS IN: GPs did not feel included or supported at the outset of the pandemic. Coming together with fellow professionals was a welcome source of support. Professional support can be delivered using a virtual platform. Continued professional development is more acceptable than explicit emotional support, but when done well can bolster resilience and emotional well-being.
Source: PubMed
Authors: Mark Davies, Davina Carr, Joe Dugan, Nigel Hart, Ruth Kirkpatrick, Claire Loughrey, Paul Loughrey, George O'Neill
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3212311447