Moral Distress in Pediatric Residents: Mapping Experiences, Ethical Guidance, and Challenges in Navigating Ethical...

Physicians frequently experience moral distress. Research on this issue among pediatric trainees is lacking. Our objective was to examine the characteristics of pediatric trainees' moral distress.

We conducted a descriptive qualitative study of pediatric residents' experience of moral distress. Over a six-month period, residents participated in reflective exercises followed by a mapping of their moral distress using a case involving a terminally ill patient. Data was coded and thematically analyzed.

Residents described five recurring moral challenges: balancing appropriate clinical care against concern for the patient's perceived poor quality of life; carrying the emotional burden of conveying distressing news to families; navigating the tension between parental or family expectations and clinical realities; managing personal emotions while maintaining professional boundaries; and working with limited collaboration from other clinical teams. Common emotions included sadness and frustration.

This study explored moral distress among pediatric trainees. The findings provide valuable insight for pediatric programs and educators seeking to better support residents during training.