Coping strategies among resident physicians at a tertiary hospital in Davao City during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Author:
Sharmiz Maria Tirol Calamba
1
;
Shella Akil-Bravo
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: Coping; Strategies; Residents; Doctors
- MeSH: Physicians
- From: The Filipino Family Physician 2023;61(2):186-192
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:The COVID-19 is a significant stressor for the resident physicians. This public health issue augmented the already rigid and demanding residency training.
Objective:To determine the coping strategies employed by the resident physicians at the Southern Philippines Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:The study was a cross-sectional design using the descriptive-survey research method. A total of 200 resident physicians participated in this study. The instruments used were a self-made sociodemographic profile questionnaire and the 37-item Filipino Coping Strategies Scale, adopted with permission from the developer. The study used frequency and percentage for categorical variables and mean and standard deviations for continuous variables.
Results:The respondents were primarily female resident doctors (56%), unmarried (83%), with an average age of 30, and with the majority living with their immediate family (54%) with mostly three to four family members at home (64%). Most resident doctors were assigned to COVID-19 wards (52.5%) and managed COVID-19 patients directly (73%). Twenty percent of these respondents working in COVID-19 wards have reported and claimed having pre-existing health conditions. The most prevalent coping strategies employed were religiosity (3.15 ± 0.66) and problem-solving (3.11 ± 0.50). On the other hand, resident doctors rarely turned to overactivity or substance use.
Conclusion:This study has shown that residents most frequently utilized problem-focused (problem-solving) and emotion-focused (spirituality, relaxation/recreation, and tolerance) strategies. Coping is necessary for resident physicians to confront threats of COVID-19 infection. Psychological-emotional support for the well-being of resident doctors must be in place in every residency training program. - Full text:PAFP-61-2-Spread-33-39.pdf
