Table 1.

Support Group Themes and Categories

Broad Themes	Categories	Examples
1. Practice of Medicine	1.1 End of Life Issues	I’m on the CCU now and just had a pt die. I hate having to be strong. I just want to cry.
	1.2 Medical Mistakes	I left the wire in a femoral line and it was found the next day. I felt so bad.
	1.3 Medical Decision Making	Should I have called anesthesia? Did I make the wrong decision?…
	1.4 Medical Ethics	My patient wants me to lie so he can get disability. He deserves it but can I do that?
2. Professional Development	2.1 Professional Competence/Skills	I need to learn more. I hardly know anything about HIV….
	2.2 Professional Confidence	Who am I to be making life and death decisions? This is insane!
	2.3 MD/Resident Identity	I have my DEA number now. I feel so official. So like a real doctor!
	2.4 MD/Resident Role and Responsibility	I feel like I shouldn’t be relaxing. I should be studying or reading or something.
	2.5 Peer Relationships	Somehow just knowing all you guys are in the hospital helps me get through all this.
	2.6 Relationships with Patients	I make it a point to say goodbye to all my patients…just hold their hand and honor them.
	2.7 Career Path	I think I might join the peace corp…that’s my career path.
3. Personal Development	3.1 Self-Esteem	If I suck at this, I must just suck.
	3.2 Personal Confidence	Does he think I’m a mess? Why is he coming over here?
	3.3 Self-Awareness	I’m a lot more aware of my limitations and my strengths now. I can’t do everything and that’s hard to accept.
	3.4 Attitudes and Values	Resident develops migraines and value placed on self-care changes.
	3.5 Intimacy (personal relationships)	I feel like a scar is forming between me and my non-MD friends. They just can’t understand what I’m going through.
	3.6 Assertiveness	I’m learning to say no more often….
4. Coping and Other Stressor Responses	4.1 Emotional Management	We have to process emotions with the faucet method–turn them on and off in an instant….
	4.2 Cognitive Responses to Stress	Just remember to take this one day at a time. Don’t look too far ahead into the future. It is just about surviving day by day.
	4.3 Behavioral Responses to Stress	I call my partner and have him light a candle after every death.
	4.4 Other Psychological Defenses	I finally slipped and let myself be bitter.
5. Program, Faculty, Staff Issues	5.1 Health Care System	The system is so dysfunctional. It’s so broken.
	5.2 Local Program Issues and Complaints	Why are my resident and attending always criticizing me? Why can’t they just do a little more to help?”
6. Personal Stressors and Events	No Subcategories	My grandmother is going to pass away soon.