The role of the pediatrician in the emergency service: the fear of failure and the need to be well

Abstract

Introduction: medical work has undergone profound changes. The wage system, employment conditions, low wages, and loss of status have brought, among other problems, loss of autonomy, creativity, and increased workload. Given the intense contact with pain, suffering, and death it is possible to understand why these professionals are frequent sufferers of burnout and psychological distress. Objective: To understand the complaints of tiredness and exhaustion among doctors working in public hospital pediatric emergencies. Methods: Qualitative research using different techniques. 44 participants from 62 pediatricians were selected at a public emergency service. They were observed during work and answered group interviews that highlighted recurring themes considered relevant and that were further explored in group techniques. Results: The study showed that physicians experience negative feelings about their performance in pediatric emergency shifts. The highlights were the fear of failure and fear of not doing the best in the care to critically ill children and to those who died. The percep tion that they must be well in order to properly do their tasks became apparent. Conclusions: The research gave better insight into the work of the emergency pediatrician, showing that the nature of the service can lead to their feeling tired and experiencing negative feelings.