The impact of professional characteristics and person-centred care on general practitioners’ stress levels. Findings from the cross-sectional PACE GP/FP study in 24 European countries

Nessler, Katarzyna ; Studzinski, Krzysztof ; Klemenc-Ketiš, Zalika ; Rogers, Heather L. ; Eide, Torunn Bjerve ; Ares Blanco, Sara ; Lingner, Heidrun ; Kreitmayer, Sanda ; González-Lama, Jesús ; Van Poel, Esther ; Kafadar, Didem ; Hoffmann, Kathryn ; Frese, Thomas ; Assenova, Radost ; Ungan, Mehmet ; Vuletic, Gorka ; Zelko, Erika ; Magallón-Botaya, Rosa (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Tomicic, Marion ; Mendez Lopez, Fatima (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Tsimtsiou, Zoi ; Mora, Miguel J. ; Mahtani, Vinita ; Wójtowicz, Ewa ; Windak, Adam ; Petricek, Goranka

Resumen: Background

General practitioners (GPs) face numerous challenges that can contribute to stress. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing interventions to support physician wellbeing and maintain high-quality care.
Objectives

The study aims to explore the factors associated with perceived stress among European GPs, including attitudes towards person-centred care (PCC), demographics, and professional characteristics.
Methods

The PACE GP/FP study is an online, cross-sectional, multi-centred survey conducted in 24 European countries between November 2022 and January 2024. The survey tool included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), and questions on GPs’ demographics and practice characteristics. Linear mixed models analysed the relationship between these variables and perceived stress.
Results

In total, 3522 GPs were included in the analysis. The mean PSS score indicated moderate levels of stress. Female gender and younger age were associated with increased stress. Also, a higher number of daily patient contacts and a greater perceived responsibility for vulnerable patient populations (e.g. migrants, those with limited social support, or psychiatric vulnerabilities) were significantly associated with higher stress. A stronger patient-centred orientation was associated with lower perceived stress.
Conclusion

The findings have implications for interventions to reduce GP stress, such as training programs promoting PCC, optimising patient contact rates, and providing targeted support for GPs caring for vulnerable patients. Further research is needed to explore these factors’ complex interplay and impact on GP wellbeing.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2026.2652678

Año: 2026

Publicado en: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE 32, 1 (2026), [11 pp.]
ISSN: 1381-4788

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Enfermería (Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería)
Área (Departamento): Area Medicina (Dpto. Medicina, Psiqu. y Derm.)