P-240 Symptom Checkers and General Practitioners’ Work-Related Stress. A Qualitative Interview Study With General Practitioners in Germany

Introduction In Germany, like in many countries, general practitioners (GPs) show higher levels of work-related perceived stress than the general population. Staff shortages and the increasing demands of an aging population add to the challenges facing GPs. Symptom Checkers (SCs) are ascribed the potential to relieve an overburdened healthcare system and health workers as they provide lay people with preliminary diagnostic suggestions and suggest a course for action. From an occupational health perspective, we are interested in how SCs interplay with GPs’ work-related stress. Methods Between December 2020 and February 2022, we conducted qualitative interviews with n=8 GPs in Germany. By in-depth analysis, we identified relevant topics and GPs’ implicit concepts. After n=8 interviews, no new aspects were found despite a heterogeneous sample. Results were discussed with research participants and further GPs. Results All GPs’ had a high workload which had even increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their scarcest resource was their time due to patient demand and volume compounded by the reimbursement system. Most GPs were open-minded to new technologies, but only one GP had direct experiences with SCs. All GPs saw SCs as part of the “unorganized stage” in the diagnostic process and did not feel that the process was significantly changed by SCs. They rated SCs possibilities too low to actually decrease the number of unnecessary consultations. Discussion The impact of SCs in general practice in Germany seems very limited. Conclusion GPs remained pragmatic about the vision of SCs to reduce the work-related stress of health workers in an overburdened healthcare system.