Effects of Professional Ethics Training on Moral Distress and Moral Sensitivity of Nurses in the COVID-19 and Emergency Departments of Razi Hospital in Saravan, Iran in 2022

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Nurses face many ethical issues daily, and knowing professional ethics can help them make ethical decisions. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the effects of professional ethics training on moral distress and moral sensitivity in nurses. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 nurses who were working in the emergency and COVID-19 wards of Razi Saravan Hospital in 2022 were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, the nurses of the COVID-19 ward were influenced by professional ethics training for one month. The level of moral distress and moral sensitivity was measured by the Corley and Latzen standard questionnaire after 2 weeks. The data were then analyzed by SPSS software, version 23. Results: To compare the average scores of moral distress and moral sensitivity of nurses between the two tests and the control group before and after the intervention, the analysis of the covariance statistical test was used. By controlling the pre-test variable, the average scores of moral distress and moral sensitivity after the intervention were significantly different between the two tests and the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Professional ethics training affects nurses’ moral distress and moral sensitivity

Keywords

• ethics
• professional
• morals
• moral distress
• moral sensitivity
• covid-19