The intensity and frequency of moral distress among different healthcare disciplines.
BACKGROUND
The objectives of this study are to assess and compare differences in the intensity, frequency, and overall severity of moral distress among a diverse group of healthcare professionals.


METHODS
Participants from within Baylor Health Care System completed an online seven-point Likert scale (range, 0 to 6) moral distress survey containing nine core clinical scenarios and additional scenarios specific to each participant's discipline. Higher scores reflected greater intensity and/or frequency of moral distress.


RESULTS
More than 2,700 healthcare professionals responded to the survey (response rate 18.14 percent); survey respondents represented multiple healthcare disciplines across a variety of settings in a single healthcare system. Intensity of moral distress was high in all disciplines, although the causes of highest intensity varied by discipline. Mean moral distress intensity for the nine core scenarios was higher among physicians than nurses, but the mean moral distress frequency was higher among nurses. Taking into account both intensity and frequency, the difference in mean moral distress score was statistically significant among the various disciplines. Using post hoc analysis, differences were greatest between nurses and therapists.


CONCLUSIONS
Moral distress has previously been described as a phenomenon predominantly among nursing professionals.This first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary study of moral distress suggests the phenomenon is significant across multiple professional healthcare disciplines. Healthcare professionals should be sensitive to situations that create moral distress for colleagues from other disciplines. Policy makers and administrators should explore options to lessen moral distress and professional burnout that frequently accompanies it.
Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, Texas, USA. susan.houston@baylorhealth.edu
Susan
S
Houston
Mark A
MA
Casanova
Marygrace
M
Leveille
Kathryn L
KL
Schmidt
Sunni A
SA
Barnes
Kelli R
KR
Trungale
Robert L
RL
Fine
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002604:Chaplaincy Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000941:ethics; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012947:Social Work / Q000941:ethics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology