Moral distress among healthcare professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic: report of an institution-wide survey

Abstract

Moral distress occurs when professionals cannot carry out what they believe to be ethically appropriate actions because of constraints or barriers, possibly exacerbated by Covid-19.An exploratory cross-sectional web-based survey was used to distribute the Measurement of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP) at a Covid-19 hospital in the United Arab Emirates.238 responses were eligible for analysis. The mean total score of MMD-HP was 79.18 (SD=87.75). Average scores were higher for physicians than nurses, with critical care professionals reporting a significantly higher mean score. The MMD-HP was also associated with intention to leave and employment choices.