Measurement of stress as it affects the work of the general practitioner.

This paper describes a preliminary study which collected information on the work of 18 general practitioners during a total of 52 days, and also recorded their feelings of pressure and stress from hour to hour throughout each day. The instruments used to record information on day-to-day activities and to measure self-perceived pressure, stress and arousal are described. The reliability and validity of the methods used are discussed, and some suggestions made for future development. A few preliminary findings are presented.