The Predictors of Moral Sensitivity Among Physicians

PURPOSE: The continually advancing nature of health care has improved the quality of care provided to patients. However, it has also resulted in complex ethical issues healthcare providers face in Saudi Arabia. Literature concerning healthcare workers’ moral sensitivity in Saudi Arabia is limited. This study aims to estimate moral sensitivity among physicians and determine the factors that influence it. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among physicians working at a tertiary hospital. The Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ) developed by Kim Lützén was used. The lowest score that can be obtained from the MSQ is 30, and the highest score is 210. Low scores demonstrate high ethical sensitivity, and high scores indicate low ethical sensitivity. RESULTS: A total of 253 physicians participated in the study. The mean score of moral sensitivity was 90.6±19.6. There is a significant difference in the overall moral sensitivity in relation to age (P = 0.049). There are significant differences in the Moral conflict dimension according to age (P = 0.002), parental status (P = 0.011), being a member of an ethical committee (P = 0.025), years of experience (P = 0.002), clinical ranking (P < 0.001), and previous training in bioethics (P = 0.029). There were significant differences in the Relational orientation dimension with the clinical ranking (P = 0.038) and specialty (P = 0.038). Membership of an ethical committee is a significant variable in the Benefit dimension (P = 0.028). Correlation coefficients between the overall moral sensitivity score and its dimensions were Autonomy (r = 0.68), Practice (r = 0.69), and Holistic approach (r = 0.69). Physicians who previously had training in bioethics (β 2.37, P = 0.022) and physicians who worked with clinical ethics committee (β 2.66, P = 0.008) were more likely to score better in Moral conflict dimension. CONCLUSION: Implementing ethical training for medical students and physicians will help raise their moral sensitivity levels, thereby enhancing how they deal with ethical dilemmas.