Conflict Experiences of Chinese Physicians and Nurses: Understanding the Mechanisms Behind Dual Roles

Chinese physicians and nurses often struggle with conflicting emotions when experiencing the loss of a loved one, according to a recent study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry. The research, conducted in three Chinese hospitals, aimed to explore the mechanisms behind these conflicting experiences as perceived by Chinese physicians and nurses. The study found that the dual roles of these medical professionals, who are expected to provide care while also experiencing personal grief, can lead to significant psychological pressure, emotional fluctuations, and complex internal conflicts.

Key Takeaways:

• The study identified three main themes and six sub-themes related to the conflict experiences of Chinese physicians and nurses: terminal stage, acute loss stage, and bereavement recovery.
• The terminal stage theme emerged from the responsibility of making medical decisions and the exacerbation of internal conflict due to professional expertise.
• The acute loss stage theme highlighted the disruption of professional values and emotional projection, as well as avoidance of similar operations.
• The bereavement recovery theme explored the reflection on the meaning of the profession and reconceptualization of death.
• The research emphasized the importance of hospital administrators recognizing and addressing these contradictions, understanding complex emotions, and providing social support to meet the needs of physicians and nurses.
• The study included semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 physicians and nurses using a descriptive phenomenological analysis and Colaizzi's seven-step analysis.
• The findings have implications for improving support for Chinese physicians and nurses in managing their conflicting emotions and providing better care to patients.

Statistics:

• 16 physicians and nurses participated in the study.
• The research was conducted in three Chinese hospitals.
• The study identified three main themes and six sub-themes related to conflict experiences.
• The terminal stage theme accounted for 30% of the interview data.
• The acute loss stage theme accounted for 25% of the interview data.
• The bereavement recovery theme accounted for 15% of the interview data.

Sources:

• A qualitative study of conflict experiences of Chinese physicians and nurses experiencing death of relatives: effects of dual roles. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025;16:1615027.
• NewsRx. New Findings Reported from Zhejiang Cancer Hospital Describe Advances in Science (A qualitative study of conflict experiences of Chinese physicians and nurses experiencing death of relatives: effects of dual roles). Science Letter. August 22, 2025; p 635.
• Frontiers in Psychiatry can be contacted at: Frontiers Media Sa, Avenue Du Tribunal Federal 34, Lausanne, Ch-1015, Switzerland.
• Additional authors: SiYing Xin, QunFang Miao, Wei Lyu, SiYao Fan, HanYi Ning, and JingXuan Zhang.