Injury from acting against, or being betrayed by, deeply held moral commitments.
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151 to 175 of 485A commentary on moral injury among health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although little is known about moral injury in nonmilitary populations, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that moral injury's relevance extends beyond the battlefield. Health care providers are experiencing potentially morally injurious events that may violate their moral code or values, yet almost no research has been conducted on moral injury among health care providers to date. The purpose of this commentary is to describe the relevance of moral injury to health care providers and to spark a dialogue that motivates future research, prevention, and intervention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Provider perspectives on a novel moral injury treatment for veterans: Initial assessment of acceptability and feasibility of the Impact of Killing treatment materials.
Objective: We assessed whether treatment providers specializing in evidence-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder found the Impact of Killing (IOK), a novel treatment for moral injury among combat veterans, acceptable, and feasible.
Methods: Ten providers from a large veterans administration (VA) medical center were provided with materials from IOK. We audio-recorded a semistructured interview with each provider where we elicited open-ended feedback as well as asked five structured questions about the relative advantage, compatibility, complexity/simplicity, trialability, and observability of IOK.
Results: All providers found IOK feasible, acceptable, and something they could incorporate into their existing practice. Providers reported that the spiritual and moral concerns addressed in IOK were novel, and that self-forgiveness and making amends were critical components promot…
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Jones E (2020)editorial or commentMEDLINE-indexed journal, not yet read by usThe British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science19 citations Moral injury in a context of trauma.
Moral injury, characterised by guilt, shame and self-condemnation, is conceptualised either as an adjunct to post-traumatic stress disorder or as a new syndrome. Studies of symptoms and potentially morally injurious events have produced a possible definition and informed the design of rating scales. The current challenge remains the design of effective interventions. Because moral injury relates to ethical behaviour, the meaning attached to events and perceptions of the self, moral philosophy and spirituality could contribute to the design of treatments.
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Measuring moral distress in Swedish maternal and neonatal healthcare: validation of an adapted MDS‑R and development of a criterion‑based index.
There is a lack of methods for quantifying moral distress which limits the possibility to address this emerging challenge in practice. The aims were to investigate the content and face validity of an adapted version of the Moral Distress Scale Reversed (MDS-R) for use in Swedish maternal and neonatal health care, to develop a criterion-based index for the identification of high moral distress, and to assess its relationship with stress, burnout complaints, intention to leave and job satisfaction. The content and face validity were assessed using expert assessments (n = 10) and cognitive interviews with experienced professionals (n = 5). A global moral distress index was developed using a criterion-based approach and survey data from maternal and neonatal healthcare workers (n = 951) within the longitudinal COPE Staff cohort were used for construct validity. Results showed good content an…
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Ernst P, Linden K, Roczniewska M, Hadzibajramovic E, Wessberg A, Andersson O, Carlsson Y, Graner S, Jonsson M, Veje M, Sengpiel V, Akerstrom M (2025)MEDLINE-indexed journal, not yet read by usActa obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica3 citations Moral distress among maternity and neonatal healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden: Results from the COPE staff longitudinal cohort study.
Introduction: Moral distress arises when healthcare workers face difficult decisions without adequate information and/or when patient care is compromised due to limited resources, communication issues, or altered work routines in exceptional circumstances. While moral distress in maternity and neonatal healthcare workers (MNHCWs) has been noted, its prevalence, intensity, and impact on well-being and turnover in Sweden remain unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of disturbance and frequency of experiencing moral distress among Swedish MNHCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects on MNHCWs' well-being and intention to leave their job.
Material and methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted during January-May 2021 (n = 645) and January-March 2022 (n = 503), utilizing the Moral Distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R). The study was set in hospital-based mater…
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Moral distress, moral residue, and associations with psychological distress: a cross-sectional study.
Background: The consequences of moral challenges among healthcare workers (HCWs) have been increasingly recognized. To date, however, there is limited knowledge about the predictors of and associations between moral distress, moral residue, and other psychological consequences among HCWs working in a pandemic context. Objective: We aimed to assess the levels of, and the associations between HCWs' experiences of moral distress and moral residue with traumatic stress, burnout, and general psychological distress, and evaluate the role of empathic and compassion aspects for these outcomes, while adjusting for demographic and professional factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 6551 Swedish HCWs participating in a survey during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the autumn of 2020. The survey included questions related to moral challenges, moral distress and residue, and self-report scale…
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Addressing Moral Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights About Future Directions From Canadian Ethicists and Healthcare Leaders.
Moral distress increased among healthcare workers during the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative descriptive study explored the experiences of thirteen healthcare professionals with expertise in supporting healthcare workers experiencing moral distress within Canadian healthcare systems during this time. Participants reported multiple factors driving moral distress, such as resource scarcity (e.g., staffing shortages), policies (e.g., vaccination), and sociopolitical issues (e.g., diminishing support for healthcare workers). A range of interventions was employed to address moral distress, including: education, debriefing, consultation, mentorship, and general wellness programs. A strong knowledge of moral distress and counselling skills were both cited as necessary tools for individuals facilitating moral distress interventions. Values central to experiences of m…
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Moral distress experienced by healthcare workers in COVID-19 triage centers, Blumenau-SC, 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted new ethical problems that trigger moral distress in daily healthcare work that deserve to be addressed in addition to being a serious public health problem. The aim is to understand the experience of moral distress by healthcare workers when carrying out their work to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in triage centers in the microregion of Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil. This is a qualitative study carried out with 31 healthcare workers through virtual interviews during the pandemic. Content analysis was carried out with the help of ATLAS-ti software. Based on Wilkinson's framework, the analysis revealed that the moral distress of these workers was constituted by the dimensions of the experience and effect. In experience, the main threats to moral integrity were moral harassment and moral impediment, in addition to other reasons that lead to moral dist…
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The collective experience of moral distress: a qualitative analysis of perspectives of frontline health workers during COVID-19.
Background: Moral distress is reported to be a critical force contributing to intensifying rates of anxiety, depression and burnout experienced by healthcare workers. In this paper, we examine the moral dilemmas and ensuing distress personally and collectively experienced by healthcare workers while caring for patients during the pandemic.
Methods: Data are drawn from free-text responses from a cross-sectional national online survey of Australian healthcare workers about the patient care challenges they faced.
Results: Three themes were derived from qualitative content analysis that illuminated the ways in which moral dilemmas and distress were relationally experienced by healthcare workers: (1) the moral ambiguity of how to care well for patients amid a rapidly changing work environment; (2) the distress of witnessing suffering shared between healthcare workers and patients; and (3) the…
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Molinaro ML, Shah AQ, Elma A, Scholes A, Pinto N, Leslie M, Brown A, Cook D, Niven D, Fiest K, Peter E, Grierson L, Vanstone M (2025)MEDLINE-indexed journal, not yet read by usJournal of intensive care medicine1 citations Experiences of Moral Distress in Canadian Intensive Care Unit Professionals During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Exploratory Multiple Case Study in Ontario and Alberta, Canada.
Background: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, moral distress among healthcare workers in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has garnered both media and academic attention. Moral distress has been theorized as occurring when individuals are constrained from doing what they perceive as morally right. This study sought to empirically examine the lived experiences of moral distress among clinical and administrative healthcare professionals in a sample of Canadian ICUs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Qualitative case study methodology was used as the overarching approach, collecting and comparing data from two distinct cases: one ICU in Ontario and one in Alberta. Data collection involved two primary sources: semi-structured interviews with staff and document review of institutional and government directives to provide contextual data. Data analysis commenced concurrently with d…
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Reliability and validity of the revised Rushton Moral Resilience Scale for healthcare workers.
Aim: To refine the Rushton Moral Resilience Scale (RMRS) by creating a more concise scale, improving the reliability, particularly of the personal integrity subscale and providing further evidence of validity.
Background: Healthcare workers are exposed to moral adversity in practice. When unable to preserve/restore their integrity, moral suffering ensues. Moral resilience is a resource that may mitigate negative consequences. To better understand mechanisms for doing so, a valid and reliable measurement tool is necessary.
Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Methods: Participants (N = 1297) had completed ≥1 items on the RMRS as part of the baseline survey of a larger longitudinal study. Item analysis, confirmatory factor analyses, reliability analyses (Cronbach's alpha), and correlations were used to establish reliability and validity of the revised RMRS.
Results: Item and confirmatory factor…
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Carlson J (2024)MEDLINE-indexed journal, not yet read by usThe Journal of clinical ethics2 citations Organizational Virtue Ethics and Moral Distress among Healthcare Workers.
AbstractMoral distress is traditionally defined as situations where one knows the right thing to do but external constraints make it nearly impossible to pursue the right course of action. Many interventions to mitigate moral distress focus on making healthcare workers more resilient or courageous in the face of adverse circumstances. While these "virtue cultivation" responses might be valuable traits for individuals, I want to argue that cultivating virtue is at best an incomplete strategy for dealing with moral distress in an organizational setting. The individualistic character of these approaches ignores how an organization's policies may be contributing to many morally distressing situations. I will argue that resources from the virtue tradition can still play a valuable theoretical role in addressing moral distress in healthcare settings if we transpose them to the organizational l…
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Health care workers' qualitative descriptions of ethically challenging situations evoking moral distress during Covid-19.
Background: The high public demand for healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic and strict infection control measures, coupled with threat of severe illness and death, and limited resources, led to many healthcare workers (HCWs) experiencing ethically challenging situations (ECSs).
Objective: To systematically explore first-hand accounts of ECS-evoking moral distress among HCWs during this public health emergency.
Research design: This was an open cohort study. All participants were asked whether they had been in ECS-evoking moral distress during the pandemic. Those who had were asked to describe these situations. Answers were systematically analyzed according to three levels of root causes for ECSs, using thematic analysis.
Participants and research context: In January 2022, 977 HCWs from four Norwegian university hospitals participated.
Ethical considerations: The study receive…
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Multi-professional perspectives to reduce moral distress: A qualitative investigation.
Background: Encounters of moral distress have long-term consequences on healthcare workers' physical and mental health, leading to job dissatisfaction, reduced patient care, and high levels of burnout, exhaustion, and intentions to quit. Yet, research on approaches to ameliorate moral distress across the health workforce is limited.
Research objective: The aim of our study was to qualitatively explore multi-professional perspectives of healthcare social workers, chaplains, and patient liaisons on ways to reduce moral distress and heighten well-being at a southern U.S. academic medical center.
Participants & research context: Purposive sampling and chain-referral methods assisted with recruitment through hospital listservs, staff meetings, and newsletters. Interested participants contacted the principal investigator and all interviews were conducted in-person. Consent was attained prior t…
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Burnout, Moral Distress, and Compassion Fatigue as Correlates of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Clinical and Nonclinical Healthcare Workers.
Goal: Research has highlighted psychological distress resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers (HCWs), including the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, the degree to which these conditions have endured beyond the pandemic and the extent to which they affect the entire healthcare team, including both clinical and nonclinical workers, remain unknown. This study aims to identify correlates of PTSS in the entire healthcare workforce with the goal of providing evidence to support the development of trauma-informed leadership strategies.
Methods: Data were collected from June to July 2022 using a cross-sectional anonymous survey in a large academic medical center setting. A total of 6,466 clinical and nonclinical employees completed the survey (27.3% response rate). Cases with at least one missing variable were omitted, for a total sample size of 4,…
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Examining the effect of moral resilience on moral distress.
Aims: The study aims to test the Turkish validity and reliability of the Rushton Moral Resilience Scale (RMRS) and examine the effect of moral resilience on moral distress.
Background: Moral distress is a phenomenon that negatively affects health workers, health institutions, and the person receiving care. In order to eliminate or minimize the negative effects of moral distress, it is necessary to increase the moral resilience of nurses. Moral resilience involves developing systems that support a culture of ethical practice in healthcare and aim to increase an individual's capacity to cope with moral challenges.
Methods: A methodological and descriptive-predictive study design was adopted. Sociodemographic Information Form, Measure of Moral Distress - Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP), and Rushton Moral Resilience Scale were used to collect data from the nurses. A total of 255 clinical n…
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Moral distress and psychological status among healthcare workers in a newly established paediatric intensive care unit.
Introduction: Healthcare workers in intensive care units often experience moral distress, depression, and stress-related symptoms. These conditions can lower staff retention and influence the quality of patient care. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of moral distress and psychological status among healthcare workers in a newly established paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Hong Kong.
Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in the PICU of the Hong Kong Children's Hospital; healthcare workers (doctors, nurses and allied health professionals) were invited to participate. The Revised Moral Distress Scale (MDS-R) Paediatric Version and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 items were used to assess moral distress and psychological status, respectively. Demographic characteristics were examined in relation to moral distress, depression, anxiety, and stre…
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Cross-sectional survey of COVID-19-related impacts on mental health of nurses: occupational disruption, organisational preparedness, psychological harm, and moral distress.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented levels of prolonged strain on healthcare systems and healthcare workers (HCWs) globally, with nurses at the forefront. Objectives: To describe types and prevalence of occupational disruptions and exposure to COVID-19, and their impacts on mental health, moral distress, coping strategies, and help-seeking behaviours of Australian nurses. Design: A cross-sectional online anonymous survey distributed amongst Australian HCWs between 27 August and 23 October 2020.Methods: Data was collected on demographics, workplace disruption, personal relationships, and mental health. Predictors of mental health impacts and coping strategies were identified through multivariate regression analyses. Results: 7845 complete responses were returned, of which 3082 (39.3%) were from nurses and 4763 (60.7%) were from all other professions ('other HCWs'…
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An evaluation of moral distress among healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine.
Background: Moral distress among healthcare workers (HCWs) is considered a serious issue in all aspects of healthcare divisions, which needs an urgent intervention.
Aims: The study aims at evaluating moral distress among HCWs which will help the healthcare management and decision-makers in hospitals and health centers to act in a comprehensiveness and effective way by reinforcing moral thinking and behavior in selected coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine centers across Palestine.
Methods: Ninety-four HCWs were selected by convenience sampling method. Data were collected using revised Corley's Standard Moral Distress (MD) Scale and analyzed using SPSS software version 23.
Results: The mean score of MD for HCWs was low (1.24 ± 0.71). The mean score of MD severity was moderate (1.4 ± 0.93). The severity and frequency of MD in HCWs had a significant reverse relationship with years of experienc…
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Spilg EG, Rushton CH, Phillips JL, Kendzerska T, Saad M, Gifford W, Gautam M, Bhatla R, Edwards JD, Quilty L, Leveille C, Robillard R (2022)MEDLINE-indexed journal, not yet read by usBMC psychiatry106 citations The new frontline: exploring the links between moral distress, moral resilience and mental health in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background: Global health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, confront healthcare workers (HCW) with increased exposure to potentially morally distressing events. The pandemic has provided an opportunity to explore the links between moral distress, moral resilience, and emergence of mental health symptoms in HCWs.
Methods: A total of 962 Canadian healthcare workers (88.4% female, 44.6 + 12.8 years old) completed an online survey during the first COVID-19 wave in Canada (between April 3rd and September 3rd, 2020). Respondents completed a series of validated scales assessing moral distress, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms, and moral resilience. Respondents were grouped based on exposure to patients who tested positive for COVID-19. In addition to descriptive statistics and analyses of covariance, multiple linear regression was used to evaluate if moral resilience mode…
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COVID-19 Outbreak: Understanding Moral-Distress Experiences Faced by Healthcare Workers in British Columbia, Canada.
Pandemic-management plans shift the care model from patient-centred to public-centred and increase the risk of healthcare workers (HCWs) experiencing moral distress (MD). This study aimed to understand HCWs' MD experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify HCWs' preferred coping strategies. Based on a qualitative research methodology, three surveys were distributed at different stages of the pandemic response in British Columbia (BC), Canada. The thematic analysis of the data revealed common MD themes: concerns about ability to serve patients and about the risks intrinsic to the pandemic. Additionally, it revealed that COVID-19 fatigue and collateral impact of COVID-19 were important ethical challenges faced by the HCWs who completed the surveys. These experiences caused stress, anxiety, increased/decreased empathy, sleep disturbances, and feelings of helplessness. Respondents…
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Manara DF, Villa G, Korelic L, Arrigoni C, Dellafiore F, Milani V, Ghizzardi G, Magon A, Giannetta N, Caruso R (2021)MEDLINE-indexed journal, not yet read by usActa bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis6 citations One-week longitudinal daily description of moral distress, coping, and general health in healthcare workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy: A quantitative diary study.
Background and aim of the work .The fluctuation from day to day within a working week of moral distress, coping, and general health of frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) in facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic has been poorly studied. This study described the weekly fluctuation from day to day of moral distress, coping, and general health in frontline HCWs who worked during the first epidemic wave (May-June 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.
Methods: This study has an intensive longitudinal design, and a convenience sampling procedure was employed to enroll physicians, nurses, allied health professions, and healthcare assistants. Data collection was performed using diary encompassed four sections: a socio-demographic form (required only at the baseline data collection) and three scales to assess moral distress, coping, and general health.
Results: Results confirmed poor …
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Moral Distress and Perceived Community Views Are Associated with Mental Health Symptoms in Frontline Health Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Background: Sudden changes in clinical practice and the altered ability to care for patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been associated with moral distress and mental health concerns in healthcare workers internationally. This study aimed to investigate the severity, prevalence, and predictors of moral distress experienced by Australian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A nationwide, voluntary, anonymous, single time-point, online survey of self-identified frontline healthcare workers was conducted between 27th August and 23rd October 2020. Participants were recruited through health organisations, professional associations, or colleges, universities, government contacts, and national media.
Results: 7846 complete responses were received from nurses (39.4%), doctors (31.1%), allied health staff (16.7%), or other roles (6.7%). Many participants reported moral…
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Moral Distress: A Framework for Offering Relief through Debrief.
Moral distress, if left unaddressed, leads to a number of harmful emotions and behaviors that take a toll on the personal and professional well-being of healthcare workers. In this article, a clinical case is used to illustrate a moral distress debriefing framework that can be utilized by clinical ethicists and healthcare professionals with the appropriate skill set. The first part of the framework is preparatory; it includes guidance on how to identify the needs of healthcare providers, set goals for a debriefing session, gather relevant information, and plan the logistics of the meeting. The second part of the framework is implemental; it outlines an eight-step method to conduct the session from beginning to end. It describes how to constructively reflect on the experience, explore emotional responses, share coping strategies, and identify take-aways for future positive outcomes. This …
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The impact of moral injury on healthcare workers' career calling: exploring authentic self-expression, ethical leadership, and self-compassion.
Background: Moral injury is a significant issue for healthcare workers, often stemming from exposure to ethical dilemmas and distressing events. This study aims to explore the relationship between moral injury and healthcare workers' career calling, using the job demands-resources model as a theoretical framework. The goal is to understand how moral injury affects healthcare workers' sense of purpose and vocation and identify factors that may mitigate this impact.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 506 Chinese healthcare workers. The study used self-report questionnaires to assess moral injury, authentic self-expression, self-compassion, ethical leadership, and career calling. Path analysis was used to test the proposed mediating and moderating relationships within the job demands-resources model.
Results: Moral injury has a negative effect on healthcare wor…
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