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Moral Distress Research Agenda

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Moral Distress in the Health Professions

Abstract

In this chapter, we offer a framework based in socioecological theory to suggest a research agenda for moral distress. This perspective broadens the study of moral distress to understand not only the strategies that address moral distress but also ways that systems, teams, and individuals can intervene at earlier time points to prevent and/or mitigate moral distress. In so doing, we discuss sample studies and strategies within the context of moral obligations, agency, integrity, engagement, and support as well as the development of conditions that increase the risk for moral distress. We urge clinicians to study interventions that promote moral spaces for proactive, routine ethics consideration and dialogue among healthcare teams including patients and families. Investigating elements of strong moral communities is essential to a moral distress research agenda. We also examine individual and team-based risk reduction and treatment strategies including ideas for healing from moral distress. Finally, we recognize understudied topics such as the moral distress of patients, families, and surrogates. Research and quality improvement strategies to prevent, mitigate, and treat moral distress are critical to providing safe, effective health care and retaining clinicians who find meaning and satisfaction in their important work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California Los Angeles, School of Nursing, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Carol L. Pavlish

  2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Ellen M. Robinson

  3. University of California Los Angeles, Health Ethics Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Katherine Brown-Saltzman

  4. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Joan Henriksen

Authors
  1. Carol L. Pavlish
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  2. Ellen M. Robinson
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  3. Katherine Brown-Saltzman
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  4. Joan Henriksen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carol L. Pavlish .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lillian S. Brunner Endowed Chair, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Connie M. Ulrich

  2. Department of Bioethics, National Institute of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Christine Grady

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Pavlish, C.L., Robinson, E.M., Brown-Saltzman, K., Henriksen, J. (2018). Moral Distress Research Agenda. In: Ulrich, C., Grady, C. (eds) Moral Distress in the Health Professions . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64626-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64626-8_7

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