Defining Resilience for Healthcare Professionals– a Delphi Study

Abstract

Background: The concept of resilience is widely discussed in healthcare literature. There are various definitions and causal mechanisms underpinning the phenomenon of resilience. Aim: The aim of this study was to clarify this by exploring healthcare professionals' views on the meaning of resilience within their workplace settings. Design: A three-round Delphi survey. Methods: Based on a literature search, 41 ‘stem statements’ related to resilience were constructed. This list was refined, extended, and restricted by a panel of experts. Results: The panel agreed on eight elements that best represented their perception of factors that impact either positively or negatively the level of resilience for UAE healthcare professionals. Conclusions: This consensus-based approach for the assessment of the level of resilience of HCP working in the UAE health system represents a first step toward the development of national guidelines for optimizing the health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals in the UAE.