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Effect of a Moral Distress Consultation Service on Moral Distress, Empowerment, and a Healthy Work Environment

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Abstract

Background: Healthcare providers who are accountable for patient care safety and quality but who are not empowered to actualize them experience moral distress. Interventions to mitigate moral distress in the healthcare organization are needed. Objective: To evaluate the effect on moral distress and clinician empowerment of an established, health-system-wide intervention, Moral Distress Consultation. Methods: A quasi-experimental, mixed methods study using pre/post surveys, structured interviews, and evaluation of consult themes was used. Consults were requested by staff when moral distress was present. The purpose of consultation is to identify the causes of moral distress, barriers to action, and strategies to improve the situation. Intervention participants were those who attended a moral distress consult. Control participants were staff surveyed prior to the consult. Interviews were conducted after the consult with willing participants and unit managers. Moral distress was measured using the Moral Distress Thermometer. Empowerment was measured using the Global Empowerment Scale. Results: Twenty-one consults were conducted. Analysis included 116 intervention and 30 control surveys, and 11 interviews. A small but significant decrease was found among intervention participants, especially intensive care staff. Empowerment was unchanged. Interview themes support the consult service as an effective mode for open discussion of difficult circumstances and an important aspect of a healthy work environment. Conclusions: Moral distress consultation is an organization-wide mechanism for addressing moral distress. Consultation does not resolve moral distress but helps staff identify strategies to improve the situation. Further studies including follow up may elucidate consultation effectiveness.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge those who participated in this study and to recognize them for their willingness to speak up. They were heard.

Funding

This study was funded by a 2016 American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Impact Award Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interim Director of Academic Programs, University of Virginia School of Nursing, University of Virginia Center for Health Humanities and Ethics, 202 Jeanette Lancaster Way, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA

    Elizabeth G. Epstein

  2. Icahn School of Medicine At Mt. Sinai, 50 E 98th St. #2A-1, New York City, NY, 10029, USA

    Ruhee Shah

  3. Center for Health Humanities and Ethics, University of Virginia Center for Health Humanities and Ethics, PO Box 800758, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA

    Mary Faith Marshall

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  1. Elizabeth G. Epstein
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  2. Ruhee Shah
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Correspondence to Elizabeth G. Epstein.

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Epstein, E.G., Shah, R. & Marshall, M.F. Effect of a Moral Distress Consultation Service on Moral Distress, Empowerment, and a Healthy Work Environment. HEC Forum 35, 21–35 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10730-021-09449-5

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