Investigating the conditions in which women GPs thrive in general practice: what works, for whom, how and in what circumstances?

BACKGROUND: Global trends indicate an increasing number of women training as doctors. However this is not a group who appear to be thriving at work. Women GPs are at high risk of leaving the profession, experience higher rates of burnout, anxiety and depression and slower career progression than male counterparts. Existing research shows that patients value being seen by women GPs, and this staff group focus more on an individual's care needs while spending longer with them. This may contribute to their burnout and intention to leave the profession. Women GPs are also more likely to work part-time, affecting their career progression. This has implications for women GPs, employers, and patient care including quality and safety.

AIM: This review brings together a wide range of evidence to identify the conditions in which women GPs can thrive at work to better recruit, support and retain them.

METHOD: Taking a realist approach to reviewing existing evidence, a range of published documents on the topic have been analysed using a realist logic to identify how, why, for whom and in what contexts women GPs thrive at work.

RESULTS: A total of 54 documents were included in this review. Eighteen statements (CMOCs) describe a range of conditions in which women GPs both thrive and don't. Results span across three core concepts including Navigating competing roles; Patient facing work; and Sustainable careers, leadership and success.

CONCLUSION: These findings are likely to interest GPs, including GP partners and those responsible for organisational culture within general practices.