Keywords: Stress Management, Evidence based, multimodal intervention

Introduction:

Work-related stress is a pervasive contributor to non-communicable disease risk, individual burnout, and reduced quality of care in family medicine, yet it remains under-detected and sub-optimally managed in routine practice. Grounded in contemporary theories of work-related stress—including Lazarus’ transactional model, Person–Environment Fit, Conservation of Resources, and the Job Demand–Control–Support and Effort–Reward Imbalance models—this workshop will translate complex constructs such as demands, control, rewards, and resources into practical tools for family physicians and primary care teams. Participants will be introduced to brief, evidence-informed stress assessment approaches suitable for both clinicians and patients, including the Perceived Stress Scale and ultra-brief workplace-oriented instruments derived from dominant stress models. Psychometric strengths and limitations of short tools will be discussed pragmatically, with emphasis on how to embed them into time-limited GP/FM consultations, health-coaching encounters, and team well-being initiatives.

Aim(s):

This workshop aims to enhance family physicians’ capacity to detect, assess and manage stress in both patients and primary care teams using an evidence-based, multimodal approach. Specific objectives are to: (1) link leading stress theories to everyday GP/FM encounters; (2) familiarize participants with at least one brief, feasible stress assessment tool and a structured 3–5 minute assessment script; and (3) build practical skills in delivering and coordinating lifestyle-oriented, non-pharmacological stress management interventions that can be implemented within real-world time and resource constraints.

Programme:

In a 60-minute, highly interactive format, the program will combine three short presentations (5–10 minutes each) with small-group work and a whole-room electronic interactive polling activity. Components include: (1) a brief update on major work-stress theories and their relevance to family medicine; (2) demonstration and paired practice of a rapid stress assessment using the Perceived Stress Scale plus targeted questions on demands, control, support and rewards; (3) Practical demonstration of a short Progressive Muscle Relaxation protocol (head–shoulders–trunk–legs sequence with 4–7–8 breathing), design a concise lifestyle prescription integrating physical activity, nutrition and sleep hygiene.