Multicenter investigation of moral distress among physicians and its impact on the intention to leave working position

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.47182

Keywords:

Burnout syndrome, Greek version MDS-R, Moral Distress Scale Revised (MDS-R), Validation

Abstract

Introduction: The evidence concerning Moral Distress (MD) among physicians is limited, while such data are absent for physicians working in the Greek National Health System (GNHS). The purpose of this study is the investigation of MD among physicians in Greece and the validation Moral Distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R) as a reliable method for the measurement of MD in the Greek language.

Methods: This is a multicenter study in which 200 physicians of all specialties and degrees participated. A self-reporting questionnaire was used. The MDS-R questionnaire is constituted of 21 items that describe conditions met in clinical practice, aiming to investigate the frequency and intensity of such cases. The questionnaire was translated and validated in the Greek language.

Results: The test-retest procedure was undergone in a sample of 18 physicians and it was found significant and high agreement in all of the MD scale items. Therefore, all 21 items of the MDS-R questionnaire were found suitable for inclusion in the Greek version of MDS-R. A model of four main factors emerged after the analysis of the results with a total variance of 46,8% and all these factors were correlated with each other. MD was detected to a significant degree in more than half participants. The incidence and intensity of MD were higher in physicians who worked in general hospitals compared to those working in cancer hospitals, which is reported for the first time.

Conclusions: The Greek version of MDS-R is a valid and reliable instrument for the investigation of MD among Greek physicians. Moral distress impacts the Greek physicians but the degree depends on the working position. Moral distress is also associated with leaving a working position among Greek physicians.

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Author Biographies

Nikolaos Schizas, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece

MD, MSc, PhDc National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Pindou 27, Vrilissia, Greece, zipcode:15235 (Corresponding author)

Tel. : +306936820715

E-mail: nikschizas@gmail.com

Athanasios Nazos, Department of Economics, School of Social, Political and Economic Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece.

MSc, Department of Economics, School of Social, Political and Economic Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece.

E-mail: athanazos@gmail.com

Ioanna Schiza, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

MSc, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

E-mail: sxiwanna@gmail.com

Georgia Nazou, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece.

MD, MSc, Anesthesiology Department, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece.

E-mail: georgianazou@gmail.com

Alkis Apostolopoulos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

MSc, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

E-mail: alkisapostolo@gmail.com

Ioannis Anagnostopoulos, “G. Gennimatas” General Hospital, Athens, Greece.

MD, Department of Cardiology, “G. Gennimatas” General Hospital, Athens, Greece

E-mail: iannis.anagnostopoulos@gmail.com

Dimitrios C. Angouras, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

MD, PhD, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

E-mail: dangouras@yahoo.com

Dimitrios Paliouras, Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece

MD, MSc, PhD, Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece

E-mail: demtros@yahoo.gr

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Published

2024-03-25

How to Cite

Schizas, N., Nazos, A., Schiza, I., Nazou, G., Apostolopoulos, A., Anagnostopoulos, I., Angouras, D. C., & Paliouras, D. (2024). Multicenter investigation of moral distress among physicians and its impact on the intention to leave working position. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 14(2), 208–217. https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v14i2.47182

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Section

Original Articles