Table 3.

Management and Coping Strategies Given by Physician Participants (N = 101)*

Encounter Component	Management and Coping Strategy	Examples of Strategy	Frequency of Mentions
Collaboration	Priority setting	Prioritize patient concerns	20
	Diagnostic skills	Thorough history, physical and testing	13
	Decision making	Explain fully	13
		Be consistent and objective	12
		Facilitate patient decision making	12
		Be honest and fair	11
	Teamwork	Use referrals (mental health, pain, etc)	12
		Enlist/see family	2
		Provide quality care	1
	Coaching	Set small, achievable goals	8
	Coaching	Short term symptom relief	2
Appropriate use of power	Set clinical management rules	Schedule patient frequently, longer visits	26
		Clinic time management	1
		Good documentation	1
		Allow a tincture of time	1
	Set boundaries and limits	Make explicit rules	19
		Limit number of patient concerns	10
		Set general limits	9
		Limit time at each visit	4
Empathy	Empathy	Understand patients psyche and emotions	9
		Be compassionate and firm	8
		Be patient centered	1
		Reinforce positives	1
		Keep professional distance	1
Consistently unsuccessful patient encounter
Opposition, misuse of power, compassion fatigue	Termination	Dismiss patient, make them want to leave	11
		Ignore problems	1
		Charge more	1