Digital stress perception and associations with work- and health-related outcomes among general practitioners in Germany: a quantitative study.

BACKGROUND

Digital technologies are increasingly being integrated into healthcare settings, including the ambulatory sector of general practitioners, with potential improvement in everyday work life. Although the changes sound very promising, the adoption of new technologies can also introduce additional stressors for medical staff, potentially resulting in negative impacts on work performance and health. This study seeks to identify the stressors and resources associated with digitization among general practitioners in Germany, explore their effects on work and health variables, and uncover potential preventive measures to mitigate these stressors.

METHODS

This mixed methods study combined quantitative and qualitative approaches. An online questionnaire was used to examine the relationships between technostress creators, inhibitors, and the perception of technostress, as well as the measures of burnout, job satisfaction, and general health among 114 general practitioners in Germany's ambulatory care setting. The study was carried out between March and June 2024. Several validated instruments were employed, including the Technostress Model and selected items from the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ III). Exploratory assumptions were evaluated using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

The study found medium levels of technostress perception among the participating general practitioners (n = 114) along with a substantial level of technostress inhibitors. The general practitioners surveyed in this study reported experiencing burnout symptoms occasionally, expressed a moderate level of job satisfaction, and generally described their health status as good. The relationships between stressors and work- and health-related outcomes were analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

This study offers a preliminary overview of the persistence of techno-stressors, technostress inhibitors, and technostress levels and their impact on health- and work-related outcomes among general practitioners in Germany. The findings indicate that using information and communication technologies can lead to heightened stress, increased burnout symptoms, and reduced job satisfaction. As the workload for general practitioners is expected to grow in the upcoming years, the study highlights the critical need for additional preventive strategies to mitigate stress and improve well-being among general practitioners.