From crisis to care: exploring the resilience of pediatric urologists in tackling complex urological challenges in a resource-limited country during volunteer campaigns: a qualitative study

Surgeons operating in resource-limited settings encounter unique challenges due to the scarcity of materials and resources. Complex urological disorders (CUDs) such as bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, and posterior urethral valves, prevalent in these settings, often lead to varying surgical out...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anas Aboalsamh, Yousef Bassi, Dana Khafagi, Sarah Ali AlShamrani, Ahmad A. AlZahrani, Abdullah Mesawa, Basim Alsaywid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1486283/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849725052053880832
author Anas Aboalsamh
Yousef Bassi
Dana Khafagi
Sarah Ali AlShamrani
Ahmad A. AlZahrani
Abdullah Mesawa
Basim Alsaywid
Basim Alsaywid
author_facet Anas Aboalsamh
Yousef Bassi
Dana Khafagi
Sarah Ali AlShamrani
Ahmad A. AlZahrani
Abdullah Mesawa
Basim Alsaywid
Basim Alsaywid
author_sort Anas Aboalsamh
collection DOAJ
description Surgeons operating in resource-limited settings encounter unique challenges due to the scarcity of materials and resources. Complex urological disorders (CUDs) such as bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, and posterior urethral valves, prevalent in these settings, often lead to varying surgical outcomes. This study aims to understand the experiences of surgeons treating pediatric patients with varying CUDs in a setting where resources are scarce through a qualitative phenomenological approach. We conducted six in-depth interviews with six pediatric urologists and surgeons who participated in humanitarian missions sponsored by the King Salman Humanitarian and Relief Center. The interviews, analyzed using the Nvivo v14.23.0 software, revealed common themes: inadequate equipment, lack of trained personnel, infrastructure challenges, emotional and physical tolls, and the need for effective communication and collaboration with local healthcare teams and providers. The findings highlighted the surgeons' adaptive strategies and resilience in overcoming these obstacles, emphasizing the critical role of support from humanitarian organizations. The study underscores the importance of ongoing education for local medical staff, the potential of telemedicine, and the need for consistent presence in resource-limited areas to improve patient care and outcomes. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to optimize resources, enhance training, and support healthcare providers' wellbeing in these demanding environments.
format Article
id doaj-art-4e332fb3a1c549eda2188bf4550a0b50
institution DOAJ
issn 2296-2565
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Public Health
spelling doaj-art-4e332fb3a1c549eda2188bf4550a0b502025-08-20T03:10:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-04-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14862831486283From crisis to care: exploring the resilience of pediatric urologists in tackling complex urological challenges in a resource-limited country during volunteer campaigns: a qualitative studyAnas Aboalsamh0Yousef Bassi1Dana Khafagi2Sarah Ali AlShamrani3Ahmad A. AlZahrani4Abdullah Mesawa5Basim Alsaywid6Basim Alsaywid7Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaEducation and Research Skills Directory, Saudi National Institute of Health, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaUrology Section, Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaEducation and Research Skills Directory, Saudi National Institute of Health, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaUrology Department, Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaSurgeons operating in resource-limited settings encounter unique challenges due to the scarcity of materials and resources. Complex urological disorders (CUDs) such as bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, and posterior urethral valves, prevalent in these settings, often lead to varying surgical outcomes. This study aims to understand the experiences of surgeons treating pediatric patients with varying CUDs in a setting where resources are scarce through a qualitative phenomenological approach. We conducted six in-depth interviews with six pediatric urologists and surgeons who participated in humanitarian missions sponsored by the King Salman Humanitarian and Relief Center. The interviews, analyzed using the Nvivo v14.23.0 software, revealed common themes: inadequate equipment, lack of trained personnel, infrastructure challenges, emotional and physical tolls, and the need for effective communication and collaboration with local healthcare teams and providers. The findings highlighted the surgeons' adaptive strategies and resilience in overcoming these obstacles, emphasizing the critical role of support from humanitarian organizations. The study underscores the importance of ongoing education for local medical staff, the potential of telemedicine, and the need for consistent presence in resource-limited areas to improve patient care and outcomes. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to optimize resources, enhance training, and support healthcare providers' wellbeing in these demanding environments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1486283/fullpediatric urologyresource-limited settingshumanitarian surgerycomplex urological disordersglobal healthhealthcare access
spellingShingle Anas Aboalsamh
Yousef Bassi
Dana Khafagi
Sarah Ali AlShamrani
Ahmad A. AlZahrani
Abdullah Mesawa
Basim Alsaywid
Basim Alsaywid
From crisis to care: exploring the resilience of pediatric urologists in tackling complex urological challenges in a resource-limited country during volunteer campaigns: a qualitative study
Frontiers in Public Health
pediatric urology
resource-limited settings
humanitarian surgery
complex urological disorders
global health
healthcare access
title From crisis to care: exploring the resilience of pediatric urologists in tackling complex urological challenges in a resource-limited country during volunteer campaigns: a qualitative study
title_full From crisis to care: exploring the resilience of pediatric urologists in tackling complex urological challenges in a resource-limited country during volunteer campaigns: a qualitative study
title_fullStr From crisis to care: exploring the resilience of pediatric urologists in tackling complex urological challenges in a resource-limited country during volunteer campaigns: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed From crisis to care: exploring the resilience of pediatric urologists in tackling complex urological challenges in a resource-limited country during volunteer campaigns: a qualitative study
title_short From crisis to care: exploring the resilience of pediatric urologists in tackling complex urological challenges in a resource-limited country during volunteer campaigns: a qualitative study
title_sort from crisis to care exploring the resilience of pediatric urologists in tackling complex urological challenges in a resource limited country during volunteer campaigns a qualitative study
topic pediatric urology
resource-limited settings
humanitarian surgery
complex urological disorders
global health
healthcare access
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1486283/full
work_keys_str_mv AT anasaboalsamh fromcrisistocareexploringtheresilienceofpediatricurologistsintacklingcomplexurologicalchallengesinaresourcelimitedcountryduringvolunteercampaignsaqualitativestudy
AT yousefbassi fromcrisistocareexploringtheresilienceofpediatricurologistsintacklingcomplexurologicalchallengesinaresourcelimitedcountryduringvolunteercampaignsaqualitativestudy
AT danakhafagi fromcrisistocareexploringtheresilienceofpediatricurologistsintacklingcomplexurologicalchallengesinaresourcelimitedcountryduringvolunteercampaignsaqualitativestudy
AT sarahalialshamrani fromcrisistocareexploringtheresilienceofpediatricurologistsintacklingcomplexurologicalchallengesinaresourcelimitedcountryduringvolunteercampaignsaqualitativestudy
AT ahmadaalzahrani fromcrisistocareexploringtheresilienceofpediatricurologistsintacklingcomplexurologicalchallengesinaresourcelimitedcountryduringvolunteercampaignsaqualitativestudy
AT abdullahmesawa fromcrisistocareexploringtheresilienceofpediatricurologistsintacklingcomplexurologicalchallengesinaresourcelimitedcountryduringvolunteercampaignsaqualitativestudy
AT basimalsaywid fromcrisistocareexploringtheresilienceofpediatricurologistsintacklingcomplexurologicalchallengesinaresourcelimitedcountryduringvolunteercampaignsaqualitativestudy
AT basimalsaywid fromcrisistocareexploringtheresilienceofpediatricurologistsintacklingcomplexurologicalchallengesinaresourcelimitedcountryduringvolunteercampaignsaqualitativestudy