Moral Injury in Health Care: Identification and Repair in the COVID-19 Era.
J Gen Intern Med 2022;
37:3739-3743. [PMID:
35970958 PMCID:
PMC9377663 DOI:
10.1007/s11606-022-07761-5]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Frontline health-care workers experienced moral injury long before COVID-19, but the pandemic highlighted how pervasive and damaging this psychological harm can be. Moral injury occurs when individuals violate or witness violations of deeply held values and beliefs. We argue that a continuum exists between moral distress, moral injury, and burnout. Distinguishing these experiences highlights opportunities for intervention and moral repair, and may thwart progression to burnout.
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