Table 5.
Reported coping strategies to deal with emotional reactions in the presence of patients
| Categories of coping strategies | Indicators | No. (%)a |
|---|---|---|
| Breathing | Breathing; taking a deep breath; holding one’s breath | 34 (44.7) |
| Keeping the emotion away/focusing on something else | Ignoring; keeping emotional distance from the situation; continuing the encounter as if nothing was happening; focusing on the (next) task, on the patient, on one’s posture; thinking as a professional; thinking of a solution; mentally counting | 21 (27.6) |
| Talking/listening to the patient | Speaking calmly, gradually, with openness; maintaining silence; empathy; understanding; letting the patient express himself; keeping eye contact | 7 (9.2) |
| Breaking eye contact | Gaining time; organizing thoughts | 6 (7.9) |
| Reframing | Thinking of/providing an optimistic, hopeful perspective; rationalizing; accepting | 5 (6.6) |
| Withholding the emotion | Blocking the feelings; not crying | 3 (3.9) |
a
N = 76 strategies.