ArticleClinical and experimental pediatrics2025
Unsustainable and overworked: unpacking the challenges faced by pediatric cardiologists and cardiac surgeons in Korea.
Article in Clinical and experimental pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Nationwide Analysis of Surgery and Catheterization Services for Congenital Heart Disease: Regional Disparities and Patient Migration in Korea.Journal of Korean medical science · 2026Article
- Medical Travel and Geographic Inequities in Access to Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery: Evidence from a Nationwide Cohort in South Korea.Pediatric cardiology · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundPediatric cardiologists (PCs) and pediatric cardiac surgeons (PedCSs) in Korea face growing workforce shortages due to declining birth rates, decreasing interest among trainees, and increasing burnout. PURPOSE: This study investigated the working conditions, job satisfaction, and burnout levels among Korean PCs and PedCSs.
methodsIn June 2023, the Korean Pediatric Heart Society distributed a structured questionnaire via email to 149 members actively practicing pediatric cardiac care (115 PCs, 34 PedCSs). Responses from 122 members were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with burnout (P<0.05).
resultsA total of 122 physicians (96 PCs, 26 PedCSs) completed the survey (response rates: overall, 81.9%; PCs, 83.5%; PedCSs, 76.5%). Among the PCs, 79.2% worked more than 51 hr/wk, 57.3% worked night shifts, and 70.8% experienced emergency callbacks at least once per month. PedCSs reported comparably heavy burdens, with 80.8% working >51 hr/wk and 88.5% experiencing monthly emergency callbacks. Regional disparities were notable: 48.2% of PCs in the Seoul metropolitan area (SMA) performed >51 catheterizations annually versus 7.1% in other regions, while 62.5% of PedCSs in the SMA performed >30 surgeries annually versus 20% elsewhere. Litigation, reported by 66.7% of PCs versus 84.6% of PedCSs, contributed to dissatisfaction and burnout. The key drivers included limited research time, legal risks, and nonspecialized duties. Overall, 64.0% of the PCs and 61.6% of the PedCSs reported experiencing burnout. In the multivariable analysis, answering ≥6 emergency callbacks/mo (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-48.79), occupational dissatisfaction (aOR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.09-6.04), and work environment dissatisfaction (aOR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.16-7.14) independently predicted burnout, whereas the working >51 hr/wk variable did not remain significant postadjustment.
conclusionExcessive workload, frequent emergency callbacks, regional maldistribution of case volumes, litigation pressure, and occupational dissatisfaction drive high burnout among Korean pediatric cardiac specialists. These findings highlight persistent workforce challenges in Korea's pediatric cardiac system. Regular surveys and ongoing research are essential to ensuring sustainable pediatric cardiac care.
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