Ethical Challenges in Pediatrics from the Viewpoints of Iranian Pediatric Residents

Abstract

Background: Some ethical challenges have emerged along with advances within the field of pediatrics. Meanwhile, the residents of pediatrics face particular ethical challenges, since they have different roles in their professional career as educators, students, advocators, and clinicians. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to identify ethical challenges in the field of pediatrics from the viewpoints of Iranian pediatric residents Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 9 months. The studied population consisted of 90 residents of pediatrics studying at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, capital of Iran. Sampling was conducted in the form of census counts of a 32-item instrument that evaluated ethical challenges in the field of pediatrics. Validity and reliability of this questionnaire were evaluated by experts in the field of medical ethics and pediatrics. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software using descriptive-analytic statistic methods. Results: The most serious ethical challenges in the field of pediatrics were providing enough information to obtain informed consent (4.74 ± 0.22), dealing effectively with the conflicts of decision-making by the sick children and their families (4.68 ± 0.14), giving bad news to the sick children or their parents as appropriately as possible (4.64 ± 0.18), and taking necessary actions in dealing with cases of child maltreatment (4.62 ± 0.16), respectively. In addition, based on linear regression analysis, there was a significant correlation (P = 0.03, r = 0.059) between the residents’ gender and their views towards ethical conflicts; female residents paid more attention to these challenges than male residents. Conclusions: Paying attention to ethical challenges in the field of pediatrics helps the authorities provide favorable conditions in clinical settings. Therefore, resulting in less ethical challenges in similar situations.