James Tawse

Award title: PhD- Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care

Project Title: Patient safety, burnout and primary care practitioners: a mixed methods study 

Brief Summary: The high levels of burnout and turnover among healthcare practitioners is one of the most important challenges that UK primary care faces in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. International research shows that practitioners involved in patient safety incidents are particularly vulnerable to low morale, burnout, sickness and leaving posts. However, our understanding of the impacts of patient safety incidents on primary care practitioners in the UK is limited and there are no evidence-based interventions to support the wellbeing and retention of primary care practitioners who have been involved in patient safety incidents. 

This research aims to:

1) Assess which types/characteristics of interventions best support healthcare practitioners involved in patient safety incidents. 

2) Examine the impact of patient safety incidents on stress, burnout, and turnover intentions among primary care practitioners. 

3) Co-produce a feasible and acceptable behavioural intervention to support the wellbeing of primary care practitioners after being involved in a patient safety incident. 

Start date: 1st October 2023

End date: 30th September 2026