Literature Collection

BACKGROUND: GPs are working within an increasingly complex and pressured healthcare system, often experiencing high levels of stress, emotional burden, and burnout. As frontline clinicians, they are expected to provide compassionate, high-quality care while managing uncertainty, time constraints, and rising demand. Supporting GP wellbeing is therefore critical not only for clinicians themselves but also for patient care. Mindfulness-based interventions offer a promising, evidence-based approach, though their application within the specific context of general practice remains underexplored. This study describes the development and evaluation of an adapted mindfulness and compassion programme for GPs. AIM: To reduce stress, enhance wellbeing and compassion, and improve quality of patient care through mindfulness. METHOD: Innovations included collaboration with The Wellbeing Line, co-development of a Mindfulness curriculum with GP colleagues, GP Champions, community of practice, and development of a workbook to support accessibility and sustainability. A mixed-methods evaluation was undertaken using quantitative pre- and post-measures and qualitative participant feedback. RESULTS: Quantitative outcomes from independent evaluation (University of Bath, funded by NHS England) demonstrated very positive improvements in wellbeing, self-compassion, and attitudes to work. Qualitative findings showed enhanced quality of life within and beyond work, including improved relationships with oneself, family, colleagues, and the workplace. Participants also reported benefits to patient care through more mindful and effective consultations. CONCLUSION: This pilot suggests that adapted mindfulness and compassion training can support GP wellbeing and patient care. Further research is needed to identify active components and explore how best to sustain benefits, including embedding a culture of self-care within general practice.

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial vulnerabilities (e.g. inadequate social support, financial insecurity, stress) and substance use elevate risks for adverse perinatal outcomes and maternal mental health morbidities. However, various barriers, including paucity of validated, simple and usable comprehensive instruments, impede execution of the recommendations to screen for such vulnerabilities in the first antenatal care visit. The current study presents findings from a newly implemented self-report tool created to overcome screening barriers in outpatient antenatal clinics. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart-review of 904 women who completed the Profile for Maternal & Obstetric Treatment Effectiveness (PROMOTE) during their first antenatal visit between June and December 2019. The PROMOTE includes the 4-item NIDA Quick Screen and 15 additional items that each assess a different psychosocial vulnerability. Statistical analysis included evaluation of missing data, and exploration of missing data patterns using univariate correlations and hierarchical clustering. RESULTS: Three quarters of women (70.0%) had no missing items. In the entire sample, all but four PROMOTE items (opioid use, planned pregnancy, educational level, and financial state) had < 5% missing values, suggesting good acceptability and feasibility. Several respondent-related characteristics such as lower education, less family support, and greater stress were associated with greater likelihood of missing items. Instrument-related characteristics associated with missing values were completing the PROMOTE in Spanish or question positioning at the end of the instrument. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Conducting a comprehensive screening of theoretically and clinically meaningful vulnerabilities in an outpatient setting is feasible. Study findings will inform modifications of the PROMOTE and subsequent digitisation.