Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is limited understanding of the meaning and conceptualisation of personal resilience in doctors training in intensive care medicine (ICM). This study aims to analyse the perceptions and experiences of doctors training in ICM to conceptualise personal resilience in ICM careers. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted of doctors training in ICM with a qualitative thematic analysis of their perceptions and experiences of personal resilience. RESULTS: The five major themes were identified: personal resilience is developed through experiences; resilient attitudes and behaviours are important; maintaining balance and harmony; maintaining cognisance; and understanding the professional environment and system challenges.Two overarching themes became apparent: personal resilience as a continuous process and self-awareness within an environment. CONCLUSION: Doctors training in ICM perceive themselves to function at a high level of personal resilience. Personal resilience can be conceptualised as a continuous process, which is developed through experiences. Adaptive strategies such as maintaining balance and harmony, and upholding resilient attitudes and behaviours can be used to maintain an individual resilience equilibrium.