2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Why do general physicians experience burnout?

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21790502
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Medical sociology
Research Institution	Hitotsubashi University
Principal Investigator	YAMAGAMI Minori Hitotsubashi University, 大学院・社会学研究科, その他の補助員 (40468103)
Project Period (FY)	2009 – 2010
Keywords	感情労働 / 医療の質 / バーンアウト / ストレス / 質的研究
Research Abstract	The object of this study is to clarify the relation between burnout and emotional labor among general physicians (GPs). Semi-structured interviews with 17GPs were conducted. Data analysis revealed that GPs managed their emotions by keeping safe distance from patients and repressing their own emotions and feelings in order to maintain their emotional balance and calmness. To get through their distressing emotional experiences, GPs need to manage their emotion to stay calm, which could also be taken as coldness. It was pointed out that the issue of GPs' burnout was related to whether or not such emotional labor can be acknowledged as necessary by those around as well as GPs themselves.

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