Document Type : Original article
Authors
1
PhD in Occupational Therapy, Associated Professor Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2
Department ofOccupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation<Shahid Beheshti University of medical Sciences.
3
Professor of Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Proteomics Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
10.22037/sjrm.2025.117364.3308
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
Background and Aims: Moral distress is a type of ethical problem that occurs when therapists know the right thing to do but are unable to do it due to internal constraints, external barriers, or uncertainty. Moral distress is recognized as a significant concern in healthcare practice and can have significant personal, professional, and practical consequences. Given the negative consequences of moral distress on physical and mental health, the aim of this study was to investigate moral distress among occupational therapists in Tehran.
Methods: The present study was conducted cross-sectionally among 172 occupational therapists. The study population consisted of occupational therapists working in private and government centers in Tehran, and cluster and random sampling was conducted from 22 districts of Tehran. Graduation in occupational therapy and having more than one year of clinical work experience were the inclusion criteria for the study, and if the subjects did not respond and cooperate in completing the questionnaires, they were excluded from the study. The moral distress questionnaires were completed in person, and after collecting them, data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 software.
Results: The mean moral distress in occupational therapists was estimated to be 46.33±6.22. A comparison of moral distress in men and women showed that there was a significant difference between the mean moral distress in the two groups (p=0.001) and men endured more distress. Moral distress was higher and more significant in occupational therapists who worked in government centers (p<0.001) and there was also a significant positive correlation between moral distress and therapists' working hours (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed that occupational therapists face moral distress, and this issue indicates the need to educate occupational therapists about the concept of moral distress and strategies for dealing with it.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)