Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise
Published on: March 20, 2012
Moral distress in paediatric oncology: Contributing factors and group differences
Pernilla Pergert, Cecilia Bartholdson, Klas Blomgren
1Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Healthcare professionals in pediatric oncology experience moral distress due to lack of competence and staff continuity. Addressing these organizational issues is crucial for job satisfaction and quality of care.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Pediatric Oncology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Pediatric oncology care presents unique challenges, often leading to moral distress for healthcare professionals.
- Ethical dilemmas regarding optimal child welfare can significantly impact clinicians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the experiences of healthcare professionals regarding situations causing moral distress in Swedish pediatric oncology.
- To identify specific factors contributing to moral distress in this specialized field.
Main Methods:
- A national study utilizing the Swedish Moral Distress Scale-Revised.
- Data collected from 278 healthcare professionals across all Swedish pediatric oncology centers.
- Analysis included descriptive statistics and non-parametric group comparisons.
Main Results:
- Lack of competence and continuity of personnel were identified as the primary sources of moral distress.
- All professional groups reported significant distress, with nurses experiencing higher frequencies and scores than doctors and nursing assistants.
- Findings align with international studies identifying inadequate staffing as a major contributor to moral distress.
Conclusions:
- Organizational factors, specifically lack of competence and continuity, are key drivers of moral distress in pediatric oncology.
- Integrating clinical ethics support with organizational improvements is essential to mitigate moral distress.
- Reducing moral distress can enhance job satisfaction, prevent staff turnover, and ensure high-quality patient care.
Background:
Providing oncological care to children is demanding and ethical issues concerning what is best for the child can contribute to moral distress.
Objectives:
To explore healthcare professionals' experiences of situations that generate moral distress in Swedish paediatric oncology.
Research Design:
In this national study, data collection was conducted using the Swedish Moral Distress Scale-Revised. The data analysis included descriptive statistics and non-parametric analysis of differences between groups.
Participants And Research Context:
Healthcare professionals at all paediatric oncology centres in Sweden were invited to participate. A total of 278 healthcare professionals participated. The response rate was 89%.
Ethical Considerations:
In its advisory statement, the Regional Ethical Review Board decided that the study was of such a nature that the legislation concerning ethical reviews was not applicable. All participants received written information about the aim of the study and confidentiality. Participants demonstrated their consent by returning the survey.
Findings:
The two situations with the highest moral distress scores concerned lack of competence and continuity of personnel. All professional groups reported high levels of disturbance. Nurses rated significantly higher frequencies and higher total Moral Distress Scale scores compared to medical doctors and nursing assistants.
Discussion:
Lack of competence and continuity, as the two most morally distressing situations, confirms the findings of studies from other countries, where inadequate staffing was reported as being among the top five morally distressing situations. The levels of total Moral Distress Scale scores were more similar to those reported in intensive care units than in other paediatric care settings.
Conclusion:
The two most morally distressing situations, lack of competence and continuity, are both organisational in nature. Thus, clinical ethics support services need to be combined with organisational improvements in order to reduce moral distress, thereby maintaining job satisfaction, preventing a high turnover of staff and ensuring the quality of care.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development
Pre-Conventional Level
At the pre-conventional level, morality is primarily driven by personal...
01:23Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence
01:23Wechsler's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence
01:16Electric Potential and Potential Difference
When a test charge moves from the initial to the final position, the electric potential difference between those positions is defined as the ratio of the change in the potential energy to the charge on the...
01:05Difference from Background: Limit of Detection
The LOD indicates the presence or absence...
01:14Identifying Statistically Significant Differences: The F-Test