Emergency Response Coping Skills of Healthcare Professionals: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background: Healthcare emergencies present with high-intensity, rapidly changing environments that challenge the coping mechanisms of healthcare professionals. Coping mechanisms play a crucial role in maintaining performance and psychological balance during crises. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews with medical and paramedical staff working in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in Western Maharashtra. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires, responses were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using NVivo software followed by thematic analysis. Results: A total of 12 participants were interviewed, including doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff with thematic saturation achieved by the twelfth interview. The major themes that emerged were Maintaining Balance, Crisis Control, Human Factors, and Teamwork, each comprising sub-themes related to emotional regulation, leadership and resource management, training and communication, co-operation, and reciprocal trust. Participants described emotional regulation, protocol-driven prioritization, leadership-led crisis control, structured communication, training adequacy, equipment readiness, and mutual trust as central coping mechanisms during emergencies. Conclusion: Emergency response coping skills are multidimensional and system-dependent rather than purely individual attributes. Strengthening these skills among emergency healthcare professionals requires systematic support through training, structured communication frameworks, and psychological reinforcement. Organizational preparedness and peer support play a vital role in maintaining resilience during emergencies, safeguarding the workforce’s well-being, and ensuring patient safety during emergencies.