Moral Distress and Burnout in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Healthcare Providers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Italy

Sara Carletto, Maria Chiara Ariotti, Giulia Garelli, Ludovica Di Noto, Paola Berchialla, Francesca Malandrone, Roberta Guardione, Floriana Boarino, Maria Francesca Campagnoli, Patrizia Savant Levet, Enrico Bertino, Luca Ostacoli and Alessandra Coscia
Additional contact information
Sara Carletto: Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, TO, Italy
Maria Chiara Ariotti: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of University of Torino, Sant’Anna Hospital, City of Health and Science, 10126 Turin, TO, Italy
Giulia Garelli: Clinical Psychology Unit, A.O.U. City of Health and Science of Torino, 10126 Turin, TO, Italy
Ludovica Di Noto: Formerly at the School of Medicine, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, TO, Italy
Paola Berchialla: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Turin, TO, Italy
Francesca Malandrone: Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Turin, TO, Italy
Roberta Guardione: Neonatal Care Unit, City of Health and Science University Hospital of Torino, 10126 Turin, TO, Italy
Floriana Boarino: Neonatal Care Unit, Santa Croce Hospital ASL TO5, 10024 Moncalieri, TO, Italy
Maria Francesca Campagnoli: Neonatal Care Unit, City of Health and Science University Hospital of Torino, 10126 Turin, TO, Italy
Patrizia Savant Levet: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Maria Vittoria Hospital, ASL Città di Torino, 10144 Turin, TO, Italy
Enrico Bertino: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of University of Torino, Sant’Anna Hospital, City of Health and Science, 10126 Turin, TO, Italy
Luca Ostacoli: Clinical Psychology Unit, A.O.U. City of Health and Science of Torino, 10126 Turin, TO, Italy
Alessandra Coscia: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of University of Torino, Sant’Anna Hospital, City of Health and Science, 10126 Turin, TO, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: Moral distress (MD) in healthcare providers is widely recognized as a serious issue in critical care contexts. It has the potential to have negative impacts on both personal and professional wellbeing, the quality of care provided and staff turnover. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between MD and burnout among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) healthcare professionals and identify the possible factors associated with its occurrence. Participants were asked to complete an online survey, which covered sociodemographic and professional information and included two self-report questionnaires (Italian Moral Distress Scale-Revised and Maslach Burnout Inventory). The sample comprised 115 healthcare providers (nurses and physiotherapists: 66.1%; physicians: 30.4%; healthcare assistants: 3.5%) working in four NICUs located within the province of Turin, Italy. The results revealed overall low levels of MD, with no significant differences between nurses/physiotherapists and physicians. Nurses/physiotherapists showed a statistically significant higher percentage of personal accomplishment burnout (32.9%) compared with physicians (8.6%; p = 0.012). MD was associated with the emotional exhaustion dimension of burnout. Spirituality and/or religiousness was shown to be a moderating variable. Further research is needed to deepen our understanding of the correlation between MD and burnout and the role of spirituality and/or religiousness as moderators.

Keywords: moral distress; burnout; NICU; healthcare workers; spirituality; existential orientation; religiousness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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