Are occupational stress levels predictive of ambulatory blood pressure in British GPs? An exploratory study

Background. Occupational stress has been implicated as an independent risk factor in the aetiology of coronary heart disease and increased hypertensiv e risk in a number of occupations. Despite the large number of studies into GP stress, none have employed an objective physiological stress correlate. Objectives. We conducted an exploratory study to investigate whether self-r eported occupational stress levels as measured by the General Practitioner Stress Index (GPSI) were predictive of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) usin g a Spacelabs 90207 in a sample of British GPs. Method. Twenty-seven GPs (17 males, 10 females) participated in the study. Each GP wore an ABP monitor on a normal workday and non-workday. All GPs co mpleted the GPSI before returning the ABP monitors. Demographic data were a lso collected. Results. Stress associated with 'interpersonal and organizational change' e merged from the stepwise multiple regression analysis as the only significa nt predictor of ABP, explaining 21% of the variance in workday systolic blo od pressure, 26% during the workday evening and 19% during the non-workday. For diastolic blood pressure, the same variable explained 29% of the varia bility during the workday and 17% during the non-workday. No significant ge nder differences were found on any of the ABP measures. Conclusions. For the first time in GP stress research, our findings establi shed that higher levels of self-reported occupational stress are predictive of greater ABP in British GPs. More detailed psychophysiological research and stress management interventions are required to isolate the effects of occupational stress in British GPs.