The effect of Covid-19 on ethical sensitivity

Abstract

Background: In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, healthcare workers increasingly encounter serious ethical issues that negatively affect their professionalism. Purpose: The study aims to examine the ethical sensitivity levels of physicians and nurses working in surgical units during the Covid-19 pandemic and the associating factors. Method: The sample of this cross-sectional online questionnaire–based study consists of 161 healthcare workers working at the surgical units in Turkish hospitals. The data were collected using the “Nurse Descriptive Information Form” developed by the researchers and the “Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire.” Ethical considerations: Approval was granted by the ethics committee. Verbal and written consent was received from the healthcare workers. Results: Ethical sensitivity in the dimension of conflict was found to be higher in healthcare workers who had ethical issues during the Covid-19 pandemic, who were married, who were nurses, who worked more than 45 h, and who had a work experience of 7–10 years (p < 0.05). Healthcare workers with a family member diagnosed with Covid-19 had high ethical sensitivity in the dimension of conflict (p = 0.008), while those who reported being fully competent and ready (p = 0.038) about Covid-19 were found to have low ethical sensitivity. Besides, those who experienced inadequate supplies (p = 0.045), long working hours (p = 0.038), and problems in asepsis–sterilization (p = 0.046) during the Covid-19 pandemic were found to have low sensitivity in the holistic approach dimension. Conclusion: The study revealed that ethical issues during the Covid-19 pandemic, sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge-skills about Covid-19, and the problems encountered in the work environment during the pandemic affect the ethical sensitivity of healthcare workers in the dimensions of conflict and holistic approach. Therefore, it is recommended that governments and all healthcare workers, and stakeholders in the health system in our country and other countries take action to promote ethical sensitivity in response to the rapidly increasing epidemic by considering the factors that adversely affect ethical sensitivity.

Nurse's Psychological Experiences of Caring for Severe COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care Units: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

“…Outside the workplace, while mainstream media extolled nurses as heroes, some nurses endured stigmatizing attitudes by those viewing them as virus carriers. Therefore, community support for nurses is crucial during an epidemic ( 51 ), and policy-makers should address the barriers that create ethical challenges for nurses fighting COVID-19 ( 52 ). The study showed that a high level of social support and recognition for healthcare workers in public health emergencies could be shealing ( 53 ).…”

Evaluation of moral sensitivity and moral courage in intensive care nurses in Turkey during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“… 19 , 20 Under these conditions, health care professionals and managers have difficulty making ethical decisions. 19 …”

“…This gives rise to the need to assess nurses' moral sensitivity and courage in their professional practice, identify any deficiencies and errors, and address them with appropriate interventions. 19 …”

Hemşirelik Son Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Klinik Uygulama Sırasındaki Covid-19 Korkusu ve Etik Duyarlılıklarının İncelenmesi

“…In previous studies, the ethical sensitivity of nursing students ranged from moderate to high (Borhani et al, 2016;Kilic Akca, Simsek, Efe Aslan, Senturk & Akca, 2017;Tuvesson & Lützén, 2017;Uncu & Güneş, 2021). Mert, Sayilan, Karatoprak & Baydemir (2021) examined the ethical sensitivity of healthcare workers in surgical clinics during the Covid-19 pandemic and found that they had a moderate level of ethical sensitivity. In another study evaluating moral sensitivity in nurses caring for patients with Covid-19, the nurses were reported to have a high level of moral sensitivity (Khodaveisi et al, 2021).…”