Stress Coping Strategies among Critical Care Medicine Physicians during COVID-19 Pandemic in Egypt: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exposure of health care workers to COVID-19 virus and its consequences together with fear of being infected and died or passing the infection to their families creates negative emotions with high stress in the working environment that impact their physiological and psychological health. AIM: The objectives of the study were to explore the different stress coping strategies that reduce stress among physicians in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A qualitative study conducted among critical care medicine physicians (n = 32) who are working in two isolation hospitals where COVID-19-confirmed patients are being treated. Semi-structured audiotaped interviews with open-ended questions for up to 45 min were conducted from March 20, 2020, to April 15, 2020. Data processing was performed based on thematic content analysis. RESULTS: The enrolled physicians (n = 32) were 35 ± 1.5 years old and about two-thirds of them were women (66%). Thematic analysis revealed that knowledge of the disease together with training of physicians on providing care in a healthy work environment, where adequate personal protective equipment are available, was important factors in reducing stress. Personal coping strategies, including psychological adjustment, spiritual interventions, and support systems, were mostly used among the interviewees. CONCLUSION: Different stress-reducing strategies were recommended by participants, and these strategies focused mainly on safety and support. Implementing and promoting these strategies by organizations and individual physicians are expected to reduce their stress and consequently promote productivity and endurance throughout the current pandemic.