Moral Distress Among Consumer Health Information Professionals: An Exploratory Study

Objectives – In recent years, moral distress has become a topic of interest among health professionals. Moral is most commonly described in the nursing literature, and refers to situation wherein an individual knows correct action take, but constrained from doing so. While differs classic ethical dilemma, years practitioners theorists have advocated for broadening definition distress. To date, no study examined another group individuals who frequently interact with patients may be by confines their role - Consumer Health Information Professionals (CHIPS). The objective this was determine if CHIPS experience and/or dilemmas, what, any, coping strategies these developed. Methods This employed mixed methods approach. Quantitative data were gathered via online survey which distributed relevant consumer information professional electronic mail lists. contained demographic questions series related potential discomfort within context work as professional. Qualitative also through phone interviews CHIPS. Interview included participant’s distress, experiences any manage said Results authors received 213 responses. test whether our variables help explain response, we used STATA calculate Pearson correlation coefficients. Individuals more likely occupation less identified Black Latinx. indicated that participants experienced dilemmas censorship, providing prognosis information, feeling institutional policies. Few interview scenarios reflected Conclusions do not appear at least according its narrow definition. consistently distinct durable patterns phenomenon level racial identity. researchers raised calls broaden focus on constraint include uncertainty, CHIPs uncertainty work. Further needed how best address impacts caused groups.