Women GPs may have suffered greater levels of burnout and anxiety during the pandemic than men, according to a new study.

There is also evidence that older doctors suffered more stress than younger ones – possibly because of the increased risk from COVID, according to an analysis of studies from around the world. The detailed study, conducted by York University, follows the launch of a campaign by the British Medical Association, highlighting the problems in general practice.

It examined the welfare of doctors working in primary care settings in different countries. In many countries GPs reported developing physical symptoms, such as migraines, exhaustion, sleep disorders and increased eating, drinking and smoking.

The researchers say there were multiple sources of stress during the pandemic, including exposure to the virus, inadequate protective equipment, information overload and a lack of readiness for a pandemic. In the UK, one study examined doctors with symptoms of long COVID and found they felt let down and frustrated at the lack of support and recognition for their condition. The research is reported in the British Journal of General Practice.

Researcher Dr Laura Jefferson said: “Many GPs have reported stress and burnout over recent years, which is potentially damaging not just to doctors themselves, but also to patients and healthcare systems.The COVID-19 pandemic has presented additional challenges for GPs, including rapid change, risks of infection, remote working, pent-up demand and reductions in face-to-face patient care.

“While there has been a tendency for research like this to focus on hospital roles, there was a need to synthesise evidence and explore factors associated with GPs’ mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. This is the first systematic review exploring the psychological wellbeing of primary care doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic.”