Family physician experiences with and needs for clinical supervision: Associations between work experiences, professional issues and social support at work

Abstract Objective To explore how work experiences, professional issues and social support at work are associated with a need for clinical supervision (CS) among family physicians (FP). Methods Web-based survey to FPs in Finland 2011 (response rate 68%; n =165). Results Among FPs, 36% needed CS, 35% had experience with CS, and 29% did not need CS. Feeling emotionally drained from work was associated with both needing and experience with CS. FPs needing CS felt callous and had committed a medical error in the recent past more often than those with CS experience. FPs expressing a need for CS felt greater uncertainty regarding their professional knowledge and more alone at work than FPs not needing CS. Rewarding work experiences were common. Conclusions A large proportion of FPs expressed a need for CS. Need for CS is associated with feeling alone at work, experiences of callousness and uncertainty regarding medical knowledge. Experience of emotional drainage was associated with experience of and need for CS. Practice implications Emotional drainage may signal a need for CS among FPs. CS might enhance FPs' emotional well-being at work. It should be more widely available to FPs and could be integrated into continuing professional development.