Investigating the conditions in which women GPs thrive: a realist review protocol

Background: Women now make up approximately half of the GP workforce. However, many are leaving the profession. This could be because they experience higher rates of burnout, stress and anxiety, suicide, and lower rates of career progression than men. They also take on a greater load of emotional labour compared with men. Retaining this staff group is one of five priorities for future policy and research. Aim: To synthesise the available evidence on how general practice workplaces can best support women GPs to thrive at work. Design & setting: We propose to undertake a realist review, which seeks to understand why an approach may work in specific contexts. This involves building an understanding of how contextual factors affect the activation of mechanisms (that is, changes in participant reasoning or behaviours) to produce their outcomes. Method: We will locate available evidence on the topic, and, using a realist logic of analysis, develop an understanding as to how, why, for whom, and in what contexts women GPs thrive at work. Evidence will include academic literature, policy documents, media items, and guidelines. Results: Findings will be co-disseminated with public and patient involvement (PPI) and stakeholder members to all key groups, including policymakers, employers, the public, and academic audiences, by a wide variety of means. Conclusion: This review is intended to improve understanding of how working environments affect women GPs. It is anticipated that findings will support the implementation of strategies to better support this group to thrive at work.