Determinants of moral distress in nurses who work in the organ and human tissue transplantation units

• Grant number: 17/10073-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2017
• End date: August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Psychiatric Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Carla Aparecida Arena Ventura
• Grantee: João Paulo Victorino
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (EERP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Faced with the scarcity of organs and tissues for transplantation purposes, several ethical issues related to autonomy, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence and altruism confront nurses daily. In this way, the professional recognizes the right act to be done, but finds himself /herself unable to undertake this action, due to errors of judgment, personal failures or even circumstances beyond personal control, giving rise to what has been defined as moral distress. Aim: To identify the intensity and frequency of moral distress in nurses who work in Organ and Tissue Transplantation Units at two University Hospitals. Method: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study that used a mixed method approach of data collection and analysis. Data will be collected in two stages: first, an instrument approved and validated to Brazilian Portuguese, the "Moral Distress Scale" will be used to identify and measure the intensity and frequency of moral distress, and then, in the second stage, focus groups will be carried out with all participants. Data collected in the first stage of the study (quantitative stage) will be analyzed through SPSS® statistical software. It will be used descriptive statistical analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis in this stage, while the qualitative data (second stage) will be analyzed through content analysis. (AU)