Moral distress level in nurses and physicians caring for patients with COVID-19: A cross-sectional descriptive study in 2020

Abstract Introduction: Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 in the world and the prevalence of the second peak of disease in Iran, we are witnessing the death of many of our compatriots in the country's hospitals every day. Meanwhile, the medical staff of hospitals, especially doctors and nurses, have the most conflicts with patients with COVID-19. Considering the very important issue of moral sensitivity in this period and its effect on the quality of performance of the healthcare team, we decided to conduct a study to investigate the level of moral distress in nurses and physicians caring for patients with COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in 2020 with available sampling on 103 nurses and physicians working in Peymaniyeh Hospital in Jahrom. Data collection tools in this study included the Demographic Information Questionnaire and the Corelli Moral Distress Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 21 and descriptive and inferential statistical tests at a significant level of p <0.05. Results: In this study, 103 nurses and physicians involved with patients with COVID-19 participated. The mean severity and recurrence of moral distress were 47.98±17.69 and 47.82±16.78, respectively. A higher score indicates a higher severity and recurrence of moral distress. The level of severity and recurrence of moral distress was low in the majority of health workers. The severity and recurrence of moral distress in clinical physicians was higher than nurses and general practitioners, but there was no significant relationship between job and severity and recurrence of moral distress (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the level of moral distress in the present study is low. Since the consequences of moral distress can affect the quality of occupational therapy, especially physicians (as the main person responsible for the treatment of COVID-19 patients) in the health system, so the serious attention of managers is needed to use educational programs related to ethical issues to identifying the symptoms of moral distress and the factors affecting it, as well as conducting more research to identify other dimensions of moral distress in other medical centers. Keywords: Nurses, Physicians, Moral Distress, COVID-19.