Moral Distress in Pediatric Healthcare Providers

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Medical Ethics
• Healthcare Professional Well-being

Background:

• Moral distress is prevalent among pediatric healthcare professionals across various roles and settings.
• High levels of moral distress correlate with an increased likelihood of professionals intending to leave their jobs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and nature of moral distress in pediatric providers.
• To identify specific scenarios contributing to moral distress.
• To explore the relationship between moral distress and intent to leave the profession.

Main Methods:

• The study surveyed pediatric providers from diverse professional backgrounds and clinical environments.
• Data collection focused on experiences of moral distress, frequency of distressing situations, and intent to leave.

Main Results:

• Physicians reported the highest overall moral distress, while intensive care nurses experienced the highest distress within nursing roles.
• Common distressing situations included requests for aggressive treatments contrary to a child's best interest, poor team communication, and lack of provider continuity.
• All provider groups found distressing scenarios disturbing, with physicians reporting higher frequencies.

Conclusions:

• Moral distress is a significant issue affecting all pediatric providers, impacting job satisfaction and retention.
• Understanding the specific triggers of moral distress is essential for developing targeted interventions.
• Interventions aimed at reducing moral distress can help mitigate pediatric provider turnover.