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Not all coping strategies are created equal: a mixed methods study exploring physicians' self reported coping
Jane B Lemaire1, Jean E Wallace
1Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Health Sciences Center, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. lemaire@ucalgary.ca
BMC Health Services Research
|July 16, 2010
Summary
Physicians’ coping strategies for workplace stress vary. Some common strategies, like keeping stress internal, correlate with emotional exhaustion, while others, like taking breaks, are linked to reduced burnout.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychology
- Medical Education
Background:
- Physicians face significant workplace stress.
- Coping strategies are crucial for managing this stress.
- Emotional exhaustion is a key symptom of physician burnout.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore physicians' self-reported coping strategies for work-related stress.
- To determine the frequency of use for various coping strategies.
- To assess the association between coping strategies and emotional exhaustion.
Main Methods:
- Mixed-methods study involving qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires.
- 42 physicians participated in open-ended interviews.
- 1178 physicians completed questionnaires measuring coping strategy use and burnout.
Main Results:
- Common workplace coping strategies include "working through stress," "talking with co-workers," "taking a time out," and "using humor."
- Strategies like "keeping stress to oneself" and "going on as if nothing happened" were positively correlated with emotional exhaustion.
- Less frequent workplace strategies and all after-work strategies (e.g., exercise, family time) were negatively correlated with emotional exhaustion.
Conclusions:
- Physician coping strategies differ in their effectiveness for managing stress and preventing burnout.
- Integrating findings into practical stress reduction interventions for physicians is recommended.
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