ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The article focuses on the professional quality of life of medical residents, and specifically on compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. Previous studies have indicated high levels of emotional stress among residents. Most of these studies were conducted within the positivistic paradigm. The qualitative study concentrates on pediatric residents during ER rotations in both routine and pandemic times. AIMS: The research goal is to explore how compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction are manifested among the residents. METHODS: Conducted in the phenomenological genre, the study included 14 pediatric residents in a large Israeli hospital. The research tool was a semi-structured interview. RESULTS: All residents reported substantial work overloads. About half of the participants indicated signs of compassion fatigue, manifested in negative emotions and diminished empathy and sensitivity, especially towards patients' families. Some exhibited a combination of compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. About half of the residents clearly expressed feelings of compassion satisfaction or empathy for patients (without direct expressions of compassion satisfaction). CONCLUSIONS: The research gave pediatric residents a platform to express their voices, shedding light on the complexity of their work. While a substantial number of participants reported compassion fatigue, the findings are encouraging. Despite the reported work overload, most of them maintained their sense of commitment and compassion, which are crucial for their work. However, participants' senses of stress and burnout have negative consequences both individually and organizationally. The study suggests that residents might gain from systematic intervention and recommendations have been offered to hospital administrations.
