[Coping strategies in stress and sources of professional reward in specialized physicians of the Valencia Community. A study with semi-structured interviews].
BACKGROUND
The professionals in the medical field are particularly exposed to psychological risk factors which may affect their quality of life. Identification of stress coping strategies and the sources of professional rewards would afford the possibility of implementing preventive measures aimed a moderating the negative effect of these risk factors. The objectives of this study are to identify the stress coping strategies that are used by specialised doctors from six public hospitals of the Valencian Community, and to describe their sources of work reward and job satisfaction.


METHODS
A qualitative study conducted by means of quasi-structured individual interviews of 47 specialists employed at six public hospitals in the province of Valencia. The interviews were taped and subsequently transcribed. An analysis was made of the substance of the opinions expressed.


RESULTS
The coping strategies mentioned most often by the physicians interviewed, analyzed overall, are those focused on the emotions, specifically, disconnecting conduct and seeking social emotional support. However, when confronted with specific stressful factors in daily practice, the strategies most often employed as those focused on the problem. A major part of the physicians surveyed state not having any work reward. Among those who do state finding some aspects gratifying, top mention is made of their salary, personal satisfaction related to being in the medical field being ranked second.


CONCLUSIONS
Including training related to active stress coping strategies in the professional curriculum of physicians could heighten their personal resources for dealing with stress. Organizational changes should additionally be made to increase their work rewards.
Escribà-Agüir
Vicenta
V
Escuela Valenciana de Estudios para la Salud (EVES), Consejera de Sanitat, Generalitat Valenciana, Valencia. escriba_vic@gva.es
Bernabé-Muñoz
Yolanda
Y
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010816:Physician Incentive Plans; D013030:Spain; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*