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Pedersen AKB, Skinner MS, Sogstad M. Service Allocators' Experiences of Ethical Dilemmas and Strategies in Long-Term Care: A Qualitative Study. Health Serv Insights 2024; 17:11786329241238883. [PMID: 38495895 PMCID: PMC10943711 DOI: 10.1177/11786329241238883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The provision of long-term care services for older adults is characterised by increasing needs and scarce resources, leading to ethical dilemmas. This qualitative study explored the ethical dilemmas experienced by healthcare professionals when allocating long-term care services to older adults and the strategies used to handle ethical dilemmas. Data from semi-structured individual interviews, focus group interviews, and observations of service allocators assessing needs and assigning long-term care services to older adults were analysed using content analysis. The overarching theme was the struggle for safe and equitable service allocation. The identified dilemmas were: (i) Struggles with A Just Allocation of Services due to Limited Time and Trust, (ii) Pressure on Professional Values Concerning Safety and Dignity, and (iii) Difficulties in Prioritising One Group Over Another. The strategies to deal with ethical dilemmas were: (i) Assessing Needs Across the Entire Municipality, (ii) Ensuring Distance to Service Recipients, (iii) Working as a Team, and (iv) Interprofessional Decision-Making. Scarce resources, organisational limitations, and political expectations drive the ethical dilemmas in long-term care service allocation. An open public discussion regarding the acceptable minimum standard of long-term care is needed to reduce the ethical pressure on service allocators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Katrin Blø Pedersen
- Centre for Care Research, Department of Health Sciences in Gjøvik, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Marianne Sundlisæter Skinner
- Centre for Care Research, Department of Health Sciences in Gjøvik, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Maren Sogstad
- Centre for Care Research, Department of Health Sciences in Gjøvik, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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Ahokas F, Hemberg J. Moral distress experienced by care leaders' in older adult care: A qualitative study. Scand J Caring Sci 2023; 37:938-948. [PMID: 35137440 DOI: 10.1111/scs.13069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many healthcare professionals have left their professions recently because of increased moral distress, and the COVID-19 pandemic has had a further major impact on the ever-changing healthcare environment. AIM The purpose of the study was to examine care leaders' experiences of moral distress in their daily work in older adult care. METHODOLOGY A qualitative design was used. The data consisted of texts from interviews with care leaders (N = 8) in an older adult care context. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. FINDINGS Five themes emerged: (1) moral distress arises from a lack of time, (2) moral distress contributes to a sense of inadequacy but also a sense of responsibility, (3) moral distress arises from an imbalance in values, (4) increased knowledge and open discussion help reduce moral distress and (5) reflection, increased support and increased resources can reduce moral distress. CONCLUSION Moral distress is something that care leaders, according to this study, experience daily in an older adult care context and it is considered to have increased. Care leaders can experience moral distress from a lack of time; patient-related, relative-related or other ethically difficult situations or an imbalance between own values and an organisation's, other caregivers', patients' and/or patients' relatives values. Increased staffing resources, more knowledge (training and lectures) and time for reflection individually, in groups or with an outside expert could increase care leaders' insights into and ability to reduce moral distress. Although situations that are characterised by moral distress are burdensome, care leaders have the opportunity to learn from such situations through reflection and discussion and can develop strategies for future ethical challenges. Future research could focus on exploring caregivers' experiences of moral distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Ahokas
- Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Department of Caring Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
| | - Jessica Hemberg
- Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies, Department of Caring Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Vaasa, Finland
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Schulz I, O'Neill J, Gillam P, Gillam L. The scope of ethical dilemmas in paediatric nursing: a survey of nurses from a tertiary paediatric centre in Australia. Nurs Ethics 2023; 30:526-541. [PMID: 36877536 DOI: 10.1177/09697330231153916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND No previous study has provided evidence for the scope and frequency of ethical dilemmas for paediatric nurses. It is essential to understand this to optimise patient care and tailor ethics support for nurses. RESEARCH AIM The aim of this study was to explore the scope of nurses' ethical dilemmas in a paediatric hospital and their engagement with the hospital clinical ethics service. RESEARCH DESIGN This study used a cross-sectional survey design. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT Paediatric nursing staff in a tertiary paediatric centre in Australia completed an online survey asking about their exposure to a range of ethical dilemmas and their knowledge of the clinical ethics service. Analysis used descriptive and inferential statistics. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS Ethical approval was granted from the hospital research committee. The survey was anonymous, and no identifying details of participants were collected. RESULTS Paediatric nurses experienced a wide range of ethical dilemmas frequently, both in the intensive care and general areas. Knowledge and use of the clinical ethics service was poor and the most frequent challenge for nurses in managing dilemmas was feeling powerless. CONCLUSION There is a need to recognise the moral burden of ethical dilemmas for paediatric nurses in order to foster ethical sensitivity, and to provide adequate support to improve care and mitigate nursing moral distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Schulz
- The Victorian Paediatric Palliative Care Program, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jenny O'Neill
- The Department of Nursing Research, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Melbourne School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; The Children's Bioethics Centre, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter Gillam
- Department of Psychology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lynn Gillam
- The Children's Bioethics Centre, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Jakobsen L, Olsen RM, Brinchmann BS, Devik SA. Developing and Testing Digital Ethical Reflection in Long-Term Care: Nurses' Experiences. SAGE Open Nurs 2023; 9:23779608221150725. [PMID: 36654853 PMCID: PMC9841835 DOI: 10.1177/23779608221150725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Nurses working in municipal long-term care face ethical challenges that can lead to moral distress and discomfort for the nurse and affect the quality of patient care. Tools and methods that contribute to increased ethical awareness and support for nurses dealing with moral issues are lacking. Technological innovations may be suitable for ethics work, but little research has been conducted on how such solutions could be designed or their potential benefit. Therefore, this study contributes knowledge about the development and testing of a digital tool for ethics support among nurses. Objective To investigate how digital ethical reflection can support ethics work among nurses working in long-term care. Methods A digital ethical reflection tool was designed and tested in nursing homes and home nursing care in collaboration with two Norwegian municipalities. The study used sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Over a 6-week period, at the end of each shift, nurses digitally reported the ethical challenges they had experienced. Their responses and experiences were described using descriptive statistics. Additionally, focus group interviews were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (TA). Results During the study period, 17 nurses reported a total of 223 registrations, with 24.8% stating that they had been in an ethically difficult situation. The digital reporting was perceived as practically applicable and helped to increase nurses' awareness of morally charged situations. The value of the registrations was found to depend on manager participation and the application of the obtained information. The participating nurses become aware that they lacked an arena for meaningful dialogue with and recognition from their manager. Conclusions Information obtained through digital reflection can form the basis for ethical reflections at the departmental level. Digital reflection has the potential to become a tool for managers in their support for employees facing ethical challenges when providing long-term care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Jakobsen
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, Norway,Lena Jakobsen, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, PO Box 1490, 8049 Bodø, Norway.
| | - Rose Mari Olsen
- Centre for Care Research Mid-Norway, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Namsos, Norway
| | - Berit Støre Brinchmann
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Norway and Nordland Regional University, Bodø, Norway
| | - Siri Andreassen Devik
- Centre for Care Research Mid-Norway, Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Namsos, Norway
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Juujärvi S, Nummela O, Sinervo T. Aspects of Ethical Conflicts and their Implications for Work-Related Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Study among Health and Social Care Professionals. SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF WORK AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.16993/sjwop.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
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Siri A, Gazzaniga V, Licata M, Ciliberti R. The teaching of the History of Medicine in Italy: a path in progress. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2021; 92:e2021245. [PMID: 34212937 PMCID: PMC8343748 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v92i3.9388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background: The increasing attention to the potential application of technology in medicine represents a dangerous warning in the direction of a reductionist approach. The academic system should therefore be strongly engaged to ensure even in medical practice the greatest enhancement of the human dimension. Targets: How much space is offered to the teaching of History of Medicine (HM) in Italian Universities? This work aims to answer this question through an in-depth analysis of the teaching plans of the Master’s Degree courses in Medicine and Surgery (MD) activated in Italy. Materials and Methods: The survey was carried out through the consultation of information, relating to the year 2019-2020, contained in the UniversItaly portal of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, created to accompany students in their studies, as well as through the information published in the web portals of the various universities. Results and Discussion: In Italy in 43 out of 97 Universities there is the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery for a total of 66 degree courses; some Universities have activated more degree courses depending on the number of learners or on issues of territorial distribution. The teaching of HM is present in the curricula of 54 MD) (82%) and in these is mandatory. In 93% of the cases, it is included in Integrated Courses (IC) and for only 4 MD) it results as autonomous teaching. For the most part (86%) it is included in the first year’s educational plan. The typology of the different ICs is extremely varied, both in terms of denomination, year, and content, as well as in the overall CFUs assigned (university credits). The current teaching staff is divided as follows: 6 full professors; 12 associate professors; 13 Researchers (RU/RD); 20 contract professors. 19 are the researchers/professors engaged in the scientific field of the HM (MED/02). Conclusion: Those findings indicate that the HM subject in the Italian medical education programs is not yet universally recognized as able to stimulate medical students to a holistic view of the person and illness and therefore not sufficiently valued. (www.actabiomedica.it)
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Nursing care is rapidly evolving due to the advanced technological and medical development, and also due to an increased focus on standardization and the logic of production, permeating today's hospital cultures. Nursing is rooted in a holistic approach with an ethical obligation to maintain and respect the individual's dignity and integrity. However, working within time limits and heavy workload leads to burnout and ethical insensitivity among nurses, and may challenge nurses' options to act on the basis of ethical and moral grounds in the individual care situation. AIM The aim of this study is to describe and discuss ethical dilemmas described and experienced by nurses in clinical practice today. METHOD The study was performed as a literature review following the matrix method allowing to synthesize literature across methodological approaches. A literature search was performed, including relevant studies published between 2011 and 2016. A total of 15 articles were included and analyzed focusing on their description of ethical dilemmas. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION We have considered and respected ethical conduct when performing a literature review, respecting authorship and referencing sources. RESULTS The analysis revealed three themes, relating to important aspects of nursing practice, such as the nurse-patient relationship, organizational structures, and collaboration with colleagues. The findings are summarized in the following three themes: (1) balancing harm and care, (2) work overload affecting quality, and (3) navigating in disagreement. Ethically difficult situations are evident across settings and in very diverse environments from neonatal care to caring for the older people. Organizational structures and being caught in-between professional values, standardization, and busyness was evident, revealing the complexity of nursing practice and the diversity of ethical dilemmas, concerns, and distress experienced by clinical nurses. CONCLUSION Nursing practice is challenged by organizational structures and the development of the health care system, inhibiting nurses' professional decision-making and forcing them to compromise basic nursing values.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Pia Dreyer
- Aarhus University, Denmark.,Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
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Karlsson M, Karlsson N, Hilli Y. Ethical dilemmas during cardiac arrest incidents in the patient's home. Nurs Ethics 2017; 26:625-637. [PMID: 28558489 DOI: 10.1177/0969733017709337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The majority (70%) of cardiac arrests in Sweden are experienced in the patient's home. In these situations, the ambulance nurses may encounter several ethical dilemmas. AIM: The aim was to investigate Swedish specialist ambulance nurses' experiences of ethical dilemmas associated with cardiac arrest situations in adult patients' homes. METHODS: Nine interviews were conducted with specialist ambulance nurses at four different ambulance stations in the southeast region of Sweden. Data were analysed using content analysis. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Ethical principles mandated by the Swedish Research Council were carefully followed during the whole process. FINDINGS: Two main themes with six sub-themes were identified: The scene - creating a sheltered space for caring and Ethical decision-making. The results showed that ethical dilemmas might occur when trying to create a sheltered space to preserve the patients' integrity and dignity. A dilemma could be whether or not to invite significant others to be present during the medical treatment. Ethical decision-making was dependent on good communication and ethical reasoning among all parties. In certain situations, decisions were made not to commence or to terminate care despite guidelines. The decision was guided by combining the medical/nursing perspectives and ethical competence with respect to the human being's dignity and a will to do good for the patient. The nurses followed the voice of their heart and had the courage to be truly human. CONCLUSION: The ambulance nurses were guided by their ethos, including the basic motive to care for the patient, to alleviate suffering, to confirm the patient's dignity and to serve life and health.
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Bernthal EM, Draper HJA, Henning J, Kelly JC. 'A band of brothers'-an exploration of the range of medical ethical issues faced by British senior military clinicians on deployment to Afghanistan: a qualitative study. J ROY ARMY MED CORPS 2016; 163:199-205. [PMID: 27780841 DOI: 10.1136/jramc-2016-000701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To identify and explore features of ethical issues that senior clinicians faced as deployed medical directors (DMDs) to the British Field Hospital in Afghanistan as well as to determine the ethical training requirements for future deployments. METHOD A qualitative study in two phases conducted from November 2014 to June 2015. Phase 1 analysed 60 vignettes of cases that had generated ethical dilemmas for DMDs. Phase 2 included focus groups and an interview with 13 DMDs. FINDINGS Phase 1 identified working with limited resources, dual conflict of meeting both clinical and military obligations and consent of children as the most prevalent ethical challenges. Themes found in Phase 2 included sharing clinical responsibilities with clinicians from other countries and not knowing team members' ways of working, in addition to the themes from Phase 1. DISCUSSION This study has drawn together examples of scenarios to form a repository that will aid future training. Recommendations included undertaking ethics training together as a team before, during and after deployment which must include all nationalities who are assigned to the same operational tour, so that different ethical views can be explored beforehand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Bernthal
- Academic Department of Military Nursing, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (Academia and Research) Medical Directorate, Birmingham, UK
| | - H J A Draper
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - J Henning
- The Academic Department of Military Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (Academia and Research), Defence Medical Group North, Northallerton, UK
| | - J C Kelly
- Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of Hull, Hull, UK
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