Twelve tips to combat ill-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: A guide for health professionals & educators

Abstract

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Background: Self-determination theory (SDT) represents an organismic theory of motivation and well-being, viewing people as naturally evolving creatures with innate needs for growth, mastery, and connection. According to SDT, for these tendencies to function optimally and for people to flourish, they require support of three basic psychological needs-autonomy, competence, and relatedness. During a pandemic such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which can provoke isolation, fear, and feelings of helplessness, it is more important than ever to prioritize and support each other's basic psychological needs. Aim: The concept of basic psychological need satisfaction is relevant in the health professions, but during a crisis, it is easy for these needs to get overlooked or thrown aside. Through this article, we aim to make this concept more understandable and applicable by those in the health and education professions, including students. Methods: SDT literature was foundational to creating these practical guidelines. Results: The authors present 12 SDT-derived tips for practitioners, educators, administrators, and learners, on ways to engage in need-supportive behaviour and promote well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: These tips demonstrate that going back to the basics in times of emergency and stress can help optimize outcomes while fostering connection, ability, and purpose. They can be learned through practice and applied to anything, from emails and social media, to teaching, to patient care.