Stress Management and Resilience Enhancement among Surgical Residents Following Surgical Errors: A Policy Commentary for Improving Performance and Preventing Subsequent Complications and Errors

Abstract

Medical errors represent an inevitable challenge within healthcare system. Beyond causing patient harm, these errors can yield profound psychological consequences for physicians and residents (1). Although patients are indisputably the primary victims, growing evidence indicates that physicians, especially residents, frequently act as “secondary victims” suffering from anxiety, burnout, diminished self-confidence, and compromised professional performance (2-4). Despite these high stakes, the emotional and psychological toll of medical errors on the involved clinicians, alongside their subsequent support needs, remains largely overlooked by health policymakers, especially within academic medical centers. Conversely, a targeted, supportive managerial approach can play a pivotal role in mitigating psychological distress, preventing personal depression following an unintentional error, and reducing the recurrence of specific clinical mistakes (5). This policy commentary is grounded in primary evidence from a qualitative study conducted within the Urology Department at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Ethics Approve Code: IR.TBZMED.FMD.REC.1403.016). By examining the lived experiences and emotional responses of faculty members and residents in the wake of surgical errors, this brief highlights systemic gaps in institutional psychological support. The goal of this brief is to propose practical policy options to reduce the psychological impact of surgical errors on physicians as secondary victims, and to decrease stress and burnout among residents in teaching hospitals.

Keywords: Surgical Error, Evidence-Based Care, Psychological Support, Policy Options