RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Balint Groups as a Means to Increase Job Satisfaction and Prevent Burnout Among General Practitioners
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 138
OP 145
DO 10.1370/afm.813
VO 6
IS 2
A1 Kjeldmand, Dorte
A1 Holmström, Inger
YR 2008
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/6/2/138.abstract
AB PURPOSE General practitioners (GPs) occupy a central position in health care and often have demanding working situations. This corps shows signs of exhaustion, and many consider quitting their job or plan to retire early. It is therefore urgent to find ways of improving GP’s satisfaction with their work. One approach might be Balint group participation. The aim of this study was to explore GPs’ experience of participating in Balint groups and its influence on their work life. METHODS We conducted a descriptive, qualitative study. Nine GPs who had participated in Balint groups for 3 to 15 years were interviewed. A phenomenologic analysis was carried out to describe the phenomenon of Balint group participation. RESULTS The GPs perceived that their Balint group participation influenced their work life. Analyses revealed several interrelating themes: competence, professional identity, and a sense of security, which increased through parallel processes, creating a base of endurance and satisfaction, thus enabling the GPs to rediscover the joy of being a physician. CONCLUSIONS The GPs in this study described their Balint group participation as beneficial and essential to their work life as physicians in several ways. It seemed to increase their competence in patient encounters and enabled them to endure in their job and find joy and challenge in their relationships with patients. Balint groups might thus help GPs handle a demanding work life and prevent burnout. These groups might not suit all GPs, however, and additional ways to reduce stress and increase job satisfaction should be offered. Annals Journal Club selection—see inside back cover or http://www.annfammed.org/AJC/.