A qualitative analysis of strategies for managing work-related stress among optometrists in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Significance: Work-related stress is common in the optometry profession, yet there is limited research on how optometrists and organizations manage and mitigate these issues. This study explores strategies to reduce work-related stress and provides recommendations for individuals, employers, and the profession, to inform future support and guidance.

Purpose: To explore how optometrists self-manage work-related stress and to identify potential strategies that employers can implement to minimize stress and foster a supportive and positive work environment.

Methods: This study was a qualitative analysis of 1284 responses from an online cross-sectional survey of optometrists registered with the General Optical Council in the United Kingdom during 2024. Content analysis was applied to responses to three different open questions covering work-related stress: what participants do to minimize stress in the workplace; what employers could do; and which aspects of their role participants find most enjoyable.

Results: We identified four themes that describe personal strategies for managing work-related stress: (1) in-work approaches; (2) work-life balance strategies; (3) leisure and social support activities; and (4) personal and professional interventions. Three themes described actions employers could take: (1) clinical efficiency and workload management; (2) clinical-commercial business strategy; and (3) workplace culture and emotional well-being. In terms of their role, clinical and patient-related work was the most enjoyable. Many expressed a strong interest in professional development, with higher clinical qualifications, particularly in independent therapeutic prescribing, being the most aspirational form of self-development.

Conclusions: Addressing work-related stress requires a collaborative approach where individuals adopt personal coping strategies, and employers and the profession implement tailored, multifactorial interventions to mitigate systemic stressors. Such combined efforts are essential to foster supportive work environments, reduce stress across the workforce, and drive the systemic changes necessary to enhance professional well-being and patient care in optometry.

FIGURE 1.

Personal approaches to minimize workplace stress.

FIGURE 2.

Personal coping approaches for work-related stress in order of popularity, n = 1192 mentions.

FIGURE 3.

Recommended employer approaches to reduce workplace stress.

FIGURE 4.

The percentage of respondents who recommended different employer approaches, n = 1623 mentions.