Interpreting the Essence of Social Support: A Phenomenological Analysis of Physicians' Experiences of Social Suppor

This qualitative phenomenology explored the meaning of social support through the experiences of 10 physicians. Their experiences generated four textural themes and one structural theme, with two corresponding sub-themes. Physicians portrayed the experience of effective social support through their peers, non-physician caregivers, their patients, and through some relationships outside of the workplace. However, physicians depicted cultural conditions that have created barriers for physicians to seek social support and motivated them to believe that support for their own psychological and emotional stress is less significant.