SOC
Surgery on Children

Surgery on Children Journal aims to publish issues related to Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatric Vascular Surgery, Pediatric Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pediatric Ear Nose Throat, Ophthalmology, Pediatric Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Pediatric Urology, Pediatric Surgical Intensive Care Clinic, and other clinical surgery fields on children of the highest scientific and clinical value at an international level and accepts articles on these topics.

eISSN: 3023-7289
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Original Article
The unspoken burden: emotional resilience and healing among pediatric urologists in high-stress clinical environments
Abstract
Aims: Pediatric urologists routinely face emotionally charged clinical scenarios, including life-altering diagnoses, patient mortality, and ethical dilemmas. These experiences often lead to unresolved emotional residue, which can manifest as burnout, compassion fatigue, or somatic symptoms. This qualitative study explores how pediatric urologists process defining moments of loss and moral distress, and evaluates mindfulness-based interventions to mitigate their psychological burden.
Methods: Participants filled out a questionnaire attached in Appendix A, which was anonymized and then reviewed to get results. The study included 24 pediatric urologists across tertiary care centers in India. Narratives were analyzed using thematic coding. A pilot mindfulness intervention (5-minute diaphragmatic breathing) was trialed with 12 participants.
Results: Four key themes emerged: (1) Anchoring Trauma (76% reported recurrent intrusive thoughts about patient deaths), (2) Emotional Suppression (89% normalized compartmentalization as a coping mechanism), (3) Somatic Manifestations (63% linked unresolved grief to chronic insomnia or hypertension), and (4) Healing Through Introspection (mindfulness practitioners showed a 40% reduction in burnout scores).
Conclusion: Unaddressed emotional trauma in pediatric urology correlates with diminished professional fulfillment and physical health. Institutional support systems, including mindfulness training, may foster resilience.

Keywords : Pediatric urology, emotional resilience, mindfulness, moral distress, physician burnout

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Article available in :
Volume 2, Issue 3, 2025
Page : 92-94
https://doi.org/10.51271/SOC-0043
Article Information
Received : 11 Mar 2025
Accepted : 06 Nis 2025
Published : 01 Tem 2025
Corresponding Author :

Vivek Viswanathan: Department of Pediatric Urology & Department of Pediatric Surgery, Bhailal Amin General Hospital, Gujarat, India

[email protected]
Citation : Viswanathan V. The unspoken burden: emotional resilience and healing among pediatric urologists in high-stress clinical environments. Surg Child. 2025;2(3):92-94.

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