Table 1 Number and percentage of interviews which explored subthemes

 Continuing in spite of difficulties

22; 32%

4; 27%

0; 0%

3; 38%

8; 44%

7; 39%

 Maintaining wellbeing and happiness

22; 32%

9; 60%

2; 22%

0; 0%

5; 28%

6; 33%

 Toughening

8; 12%

0; 0%

3; 33%

0; 0%

3; 17%

2; 11%

 Maintaining performance

9; 13%

1; 7%

1; 11%

3; 38%

2; 11

2; 11%

 Recovering from hardships

10; 15%

4; 47%

0; 0%

0; 0%

4; 22%

2; 11%

 Coping with difficulties

39; 57%

10; 67%

6; 67%

4; 50%

6; 33%

13; 72%

 Adapting to circumstances

4; 6%

0; 0%

1; 11%

0; 0%

2; 11%

1; 6%

 Thriving in spite of difficulties

4; 6%

0; 0%

0; 0%

1; 13%

1; 6%

2; 11%

Resilience as a trait

18; 26%

6; 40%

2; 22%

0: 0%

6; 33%

4; 22%

Resilience developing with time and experience

28; 41%

7; 475

5; 56%

1; 13%

8; 44%

7; 39%

 Compromised basic needs

30; 44%

6; 40%

3; 33%

3; 38%

8; 44%

8; 44%

 Lack of control or unpredictability of job

10; 15%

4; 27%

1; 11%

1; 13%

2; 11%

2; 11%

 Long hours and shift work

31; 46%

5; 33%

2; 22%

1; 13%

13; 72%

10; 55%

 Social cost

12; 18%

5; 33%

0; 0%

0; 0%

4; 22%

3; 17%

 Managing the expectations of patients and their families

14; 21%

2; 13%

1; 11%

3; 38%

3; 17%

5; 28%

 Interpersonal interactions with colleagues

8; 12%

2; 13%

1; 11%

1; 13%

3; 17%

1; 6%

 Complex and emotionally taxing cases

19; 28%

5; 33%

3; 33%

2; 25%

3; 17%

6; 33%

 All-consuming work

16; 24%

6; 40%

0; 0%

1; 13%

5; 28%

4; 22%

 Insufficient organisational resources

18; 26%

8; 53%

0; 0%

5; 63%

2; 11%

3; 17%

 Maintaining work-life balance

11; 16%

5; 33%

0; 0%

2; 25%

3; 17%

1; 6%

 Maintaining or developing knowledge and skills

4; 6%

1; 7%

1; 11%

1; 13%

0; 0%

1; 6%

 Negative work culture

7; 10%

0; 0%

0; 0%

3; 38%

0; 0%

4; 22%

 Working outside of your level of ability or knowledge

10; 15%

1; 7%

3; 33%

0; 0%

2; 11%

4; 22%

 Threat of litigation and complaints

3; 4%

2; 13%

0; 0%

0; 0%

0; 0%

1; 6%

 Dealing with responsibility

12; 18%

8; 53%

1; 11%

0; 0%

0; 0%

3; 17%

 Workload and competing demands

24; 35%

9; 60%

3; 33%

3; 38%

4; 22%

5; 28%

 Doctor-patient relationship

9; 13%

2; 13%

0; 0%

3; 38%

2; 11%

2; 11%

 Medical efficacy

16; 42%

4; 27%

1; 11%

3; 38%

5; 28%

3; 17%

 Helping colleagues

5; 7%

2; 13%

0; 0%

2; 25%

1; 6%

0; 0%

 Payment

1; 1%

1; 7%

0; 0%

0; 0%

0; 0%

0; 0%

 Engage in leisure activities

45; 66%

10; 67%

5; 56%

3; 38%

11; 61%

16; 89%

 Support from colleagues

43; 63%

12;80%

5; 56%

5; 63%

10; 55%

11; 61%

 Support from family and friends

43; 63%

10; 67%

5; 56%

3; 38%

11; 61%

14; 78%

 Know when to ask for help

19; 28%

1; 7%

1; 11%

1; 13%

10; 55%

6; 33%

 Maintain boundaries with patients

6; 9%

1; 7%

0; 0%

0; 0%

4; 22%

1; 6%

 Prioritisation and delegation

33; 49%

6; 40%

2; 22%

5; 63%

11; 61%

9; 50%

 Standing up for yourself

22; 32%

5; 33%

2; 22%

4; 50%

4; 22%

7; 39%

 Maintain a professional approach to work

13; 19%

4; 27%

1; 11%

2; 25%

4; 22%

2; 11%

 Professional supports

17; 25%

7; 47%

1; 11%

3; 38%

1; 6%

5; 28%

 Prioritisation of basic needs at work

8; 12%

2; 13%

1; 11%

1; 13%

2; 11%

2; 11%

 Cultivate a good work-life balance

57; 84%

13; 87%

6; 67%

8; 100%

15; 83%

15; 83%

 Individual ‘healthful habits’

41; 60%

12; 80%

7; 78%

7; 88%

8; 44%

7; 39%

 Acceptance and realism

35; 51%

6; 40%

4; 44%

6; 75%

10; 55%

9; 50%

 Self-awareness and reflexivity

41; 60%

12; 80%

4; 44%

3; 38%

9; 50%

13; 72%

 Maintaining perspective

48; 71%

9; 60%

7; 78%

5; 63%

16; 89%

11; 61%

 Appreciating the good things

5; 7%

2; 13%

1; 11%

0; 0%

1; 6%

1; 6%

 Belief in yourself and your abilities

7; 10%

2; 13%

1; 11%

1; 13%

2; 11%

1; 6%