Moral Distress and Perception of Futile Care among Nurses of Neonatal Care Units

OBJECTIVES: Moral distress (MD), which is affected by several factors such as futile care provision and is considered the cause of adverse effects such as job dissatisfaction and decreased care quality, is a new concept attracting increasing academic interest. This study aims to assess the correlation between nurses’ perception of futile care and MD in neonatal care units. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive-correlational study was carried out among 115 nurses working in the neonatal intensive care units and neonatal special care units of two hospitals in West Azerbaijan Province during 2020. A demographic information form, the 21-item MD-Pediatric version scale, and the 17-item perception of futile care questionnaire were used to collect data and analysed using SPSS 16 software. RESULTS: The results confirmed the direct correlation between MD and the perception of futile care. In addition, MD and the nurses’ perceptions of futile care were estimated to be moderate. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide evidence to emphasise the need for further studies to investigate other causes of MD in neonatal units and find the solutions to make the work environment more ethical. Furthermore, the results provide the platform needed for hospital and university managers to make the necessary decisions and create the required changes in the educational curriculum of nursing students and provide the appropriate courses for neonatal unit nurses to improve their ability to cope with the MD caused by providing futile care.