Table 4 Selected Examples of Health Professionals’ Emotional Reactions and Sentiments Related to POST during STEGH
From: Extent, nature and consequences of performing outside scope of training in global health
Emotion | Illustrative Quote | Respondent |
|---|---|---|
Anxiety | “I was anxious. There seemed to be no easy answer of what was the best thing to do.” | MD Fellow, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics |
Frustration | “I felt overwhelmed by the responsibility, terrified I was going to give suboptimal care that could result in death, and angry/frustrated that I was in the position of providing care beyond my scope or not providing care to these infants.” | Licensed advanced practice provider, Obstetrics/Gynecology |
Discomfort | “It is uncomfortable. You have years of training and are often looked to as the expert, but in reality, you have not been training in such activities and do not have the skills to complete such tasks. You don’t want to stand by and do nothing, but at the same time you don’t want to do more harm than good. I am often left feeling incredibly inadequate and inept.” | MD Fellow, Pediatrics |
Remorse | “If I didn’t do something, the patient would have a worse outcome. Something was better than nothing… I don’t regret it, but I wish it ended differently, since the patient died.” | MD student |
Excitement | “Excited… Everybody should be exposed to such challenges especially in LMICs.” | Licensed MD, Plastic Surgery |
Conflicted | “Torn. On one hand, not appropriate. On the other hand, if I didn’t do it, who would?... [I felt] bad. It was unfair to the patients.” | MD Fellow, Obstetrics/Gynecology |