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Moral distress in oncology nurses: A qualitative study
Azize Atli Özbaş1, Mustafa Sabri Kovanci1, Arif Hüdai Köken2
1Hacettepe University, Faculty of Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing Department, Ankara, Turkey.
Summary
Oncology nurses experience moral distress due to issues in care quality, biomedical ethics, treatment decisions, and systemic problems. Addressing these requires administrative, institutional, and legislative changes to improve ethical care.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Bioethics
- Oncology
Background:
- Oncology nursing practice is complex and presents unique ethical challenges.
- Moral distress is a significant issue for healthcare professionals in oncology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the primary sources of moral distress experienced by oncology nurses.
- To identify factors contributing to ethical challenges in cancer care.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative phenomenological study involving 14 oncology nurses.
- Data collected through semi-structured interviews (average 30 minutes).
- Inductive content analysis employed, following Corbin and Strauss methodology.
Main Results:
- Four major themes emerged: quality of care failures, biomedical ethical dilemmas, complex treatment/care practices, and systemic/institutional issues.
- Specific issues include competence concerns, futile treatments, end-of-life care decisions, and lack of regulatory support.
- Nurses reported challenges with holistic care and patient education.
Conclusions:
- Oncology nurses encounter substantial ethical problems impacting care quality and continuity, particularly during end-of-life care.
- Recommendations include implementing administrative, institutional, legislative, and systemic reforms.
- These changes are crucial for reducing moral distress and enhancing ethical practice in oncology nursing.
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