Effect of Professional Ethics Workshop on the Moral Intelligence of Prehospital Emergency Personnel in East Azerbaijan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Moral intelligence is one of the several types of human intelligence. It is the ability to understand right from wrong and behave based on the value which is believed to be right. Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a professional ethics workshop on the moral intelligence of prehospital emergency technicians in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, and consequently the improvement of their performance and increase in their work efficiency. Methods: In this before- and after-interventional study conducted in Tabriz University Prehospital Emergency Center, Iran, in 2020, a total of 234 participants were evaluated. The sample was collected using the Lennick and Kiel’s Moral Intelligence Questionnaire and full census method. Before the workshop, the questionnaire was completed by the participants. After the workshop, the same questionnaire was completed again. Results: The pretest and posttest scores for moral intelligence were 83.02 ± 7.33 and 83.49 ± 8.40, respectively, which showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). In the three components of moral intelligence, namely consistent behaviors based on principles, values, and beliefs, persistence for the right, and responsibility for personal decisions, there were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) before and after the workshop. Conclusions: According to the results, holding a professional ethics workshop was effective in increasing the overall level of moral intelligence, particularly in the three aforementioned components of moral intelligence. It is recommended to continue holding such workshops and improve the conditions and methods of training to increase their efficiency as much as possible.