Triggers and factors associated with moral distress and moral injury in health and social care workers: a systematic review of qualitative studies

Abstract

Recent UK data collected by the British Medical Association3 suggests experience of moral distress in health and social care workers is common. Of more than 1,900 doctors surveyed, 78.4% reported that moral distress resonates with their experience. 59.6% of respondents experienced moral distress in the 12 months prior to the pandemic but 96.4% said the pandemic had exacerbated the risk of moral distress. 51.1% felt the same about moral injury. Mental health related issues are indeed the first reason for absence by NHS staff, with an increase in cases between 2019 and 2022, as shown in the diagram on the right.