What Are the Common Themes of Physician Resilience? A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

Nurhanis Syazni Roslan, Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff, Karen Morgan, Asrenee Ab Razak and Nor Izzah Ahmad Shauki
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Nurhanis Syazni Roslan: Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff: Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
Karen Morgan: Perdana University-Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia
Asrenee Ab Razak: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Hospital USM, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
Nor Izzah Ahmad Shauki: Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam 40170, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: In the practice of medicine, resilience has gained attention as on of the ways to address burnout. Qualitative studies have explored the concept of physician resilience in several contexts. However, individual qualitative studies have limited generalizability, making it difficult to understand the resilience concept in a wider context. This study aims to develop a concept of resilience in the context of physicians’ experience through a meta-synthesis of relevant qualitative studies. Using a predetermined search strategy, we identified nine qualitative studies among 450 participants that reported themes of resilience in developed and developing countries, various specialties, and stages of training. We utilized the meta-ethnography method to generate themes and a line-of-argument synthesis. We identified six key themes of resilience: tenacity, resources, reflective ability, coping skills, control, and growth. The line-of-argument synthesis identified resilient physicians as individuals who are determined in their undertakings, have control in their professional lives, reflect on adversity, utilize adaptive coping strategies, and believe that adversity provides an opportunity for growth. Resilient physicians are supported by individual and organizational resources that include nurturing work culture, teamwork, and support from the medical community and at home. Our findings suggest that resilience in physicians is dynamic and must be supported not only by physician-directed interventions but also by organization-directed interventions.

Keywords: resilience; physicians wellbeing; hardiness; grit; engagement; mental health; burnout; healthcare; meta-synthesis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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