Impact of interactive ethics education program on nurses' moral sensitivity.

Abstract

BackgroundNurses working in a clinic must be morally sensitive to identify unethical circumstances and act morally. Educational strategies that can effectively gain this sensitivity are a matter of curiosity.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine if an interactive ethics training program would benefit (a) moral sensitivity and (b) knowledge.Research DesignThe present study was quasi-experimental based on a control group pretest/posttest.Participants and Research ContextThe study involved 53 nurses from 10 hospitals in Istanbul, Türkiye. The intervention group received the 5-week Interactive Ethics Training Program. Data were collected through the Personal Characteristics Form, Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire, and Nursing Ethics Knowledge Test.Ethical ConsiderationsThe study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Non-Invasive Research Ethics Committee (No. 78/2022) from Istanbul Medipol University.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the posttest for moral sensitivity (MD: -10.247; p = .010) and knowledge level (MD: 4178; p = .009).ConclusionAn interactive ethics training program in nursing ethics education positively impacts nurses' moral sense and knowledge. Improving nurses' moral awareness can facilitate ethical decision-making. Therefore, it is advised that nurse educators design their curricula based on these results.