Perspectives of Adult Cardiology Consultants Regarding Practice of Clinical Cardiology in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Q Methodology Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has drastically changed lives, challenging all to adapt new norms and survive. Safety guidelines for physician have been set, yet fear for health and safety hounds the physician. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to segment cardiologists’ viewpoints according to perceived stressors and coping mechanisms in their clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and to draw implications to coping in the light of the model of salutogenesis. METHODS: Q methodology, a mixed-method type of research, was used after approval from the UST Hospital Research Ethics Committee. Using convenience sampling, 30 adult cardiologists were included in this study. Following an informed consent to participate, they ranked-order 33 statements that answer the questions: “What are the stressors has this COVID-19 pandemic brought in your clinical practice of cardiology? How did you cope?” This was done on a Q grid with two “most agree” statements and two “most disagree” statements (Q-sort). A short interview followed the sorting to understand their most agree and most disagree statements. Q-sorting and interview were done via teleconferencing and in person. The Q sorts were then entered into a web-based PQMethod software (http://schmolck.org/qmethod/downpqdos.htm). Typologies were generated through inductive approach. RESULTS: Three typologies were generated: the profession-driven cardiologists, the protocol driven cardiologists, and the faith-driven cardiologists. CONCLUSION: This study painted different personas of cardiologists as they conduct their practice in this pandemic. These typologies enabled the formulation of individual and group salutogenic measures that can help health care providers cope in this COVID-19 pandemic. KEYWORDS: cardiology, clinical practice, coping, COVID-19, Q methodology