Moral Distress in Oncology: A Descriptive Study of Healthcare Professionals

Lara Guariglia, Irene Terrenato, Laura Iacorossi (), Giovanna D’Antonio, Sonia Ieraci, Stefania Torelli, Fabiola Nazzicone, Fabrizio Petrone and Anita Caruso
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Lara Guariglia: Psychology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
Irene Terrenato: Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
Laura Iacorossi: Nursing Research Unit IFO, IRCCS Regina Elena, National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
Giovanna D’Antonio: Psychology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
Sonia Ieraci: Psychology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
Stefania Torelli: Psychology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
Fabiola Nazzicone: Nursing, Technical, Rehabilitation, Assistance, and Research Direction IFO, IRCCS Regina Elena, National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Petrone: Nursing, Technical, Rehabilitation, Assistance, and Research Direction IFO, IRCCS Regina Elena, National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
Anita Caruso: Psychology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 8, 1-10

Abstract: Background: The oncology setting is characterized by various complexities, and healthcare professionals may experience stressful conditions associated with ethical decisions during daily clinical practice. Moral distress (MD) is a condition of distress that is generated when an individual would like to take action in line with their ethical beliefs but in conflict with the healthcare facility’s customs and/or organization. This study aims to describe the MD of oncology health professionals in different care settings. Methods: Descriptive quantitative study was conducted in the Operating Units of the Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri in Rome between January and March 2022. The investigated sample consisted of the medical and nursing staff on duty at the facility, who were given a questionnaire through a web survey. Besides a brief sociodemographic form, the MD Scale-Revised questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: The sample consisted of nurses (51%) and physicians (49%), predominantly working in surgeries (48%), and having 20–30 years of service (30%). MD was higher among healthcare professionals, in medicine than that ing in corporate organizations, surgeries, or outpatient clinics ( p = 0.007). It was not related to the profession ( p = 0.163), gender ( p = 0.103), or years of service ( p = 0.610). Conclusions: This paper outlines the prevalence of MD in care settings and describes its relationship with profession, gender, and seniority. There is no patient care without the care of health professionals: knowing and fighting MD improves the safety of the treatments provided and the quality perceived by patients.

Keywords: moral distress; organizations; moral distress scale; nurses; physicians; ethics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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