Prevalence of Moral Injury Among Critical Care Health Workers in Critical Care Areas in Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Introduction Moral injury can be defined as the psychosocial, spiritual, and behavioral impacts of “failing to prevent acts that are against moral beliefs and expectations''. It might be experienced by healthcare workers during the provision of critical care services during stressful periods. (Hines et al. 2021). This leads to feelings of betrayal, guilt, loss of religious beliefs, and feelings of loss of morals or values. For example, soldiers and veterans of war being in situations where they’re faced with decisions that determine the survival of others, or healthcare practitioners having to forego treatment of a patient over another due to strained resources. Ultimately, this may weigh heavily on the psychological well-being of the healthcare workers. Notably, moral injury has been well documented among military personnel, but not well highlighted among health workers. This research intends to focus on these areas. Study Objective This study aimed to primarily assess the prevalence and socio-demographic predictors of moral injury among critical care health workers at Kenyatta National Hospital. By delving into the various concepts that define M.I., and employing empirical research, data analysis, presentation of findings, case studies, and ultimately reaching conclusions and recommendations, the goal was to demystify knowledge on moral injury and foster awareness across communities. Thus, by examining the patterns of impacted populations and pinpointing existing gaps that are unaddressed in this phenomenon, the objective was to stimulate evidence-based strategies to grapple with psychological trauma caused by moral injury. Study Design A cross-sectional quantitative design and data were collected online using Google Forms where data was collected from 198 Critical Care Health Workers recruited via consecutive sampling. Data was collected using a researcher-designed socio-demographic questionnaire, and the Moral Injury Symptom Scale Health Professionals (MISS-HP). These tools were aimed at assessing the prevalence of variables associated with Moral Injury such as emotional conflict, and psychological trauma. Data Analysis The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 26. That is to say, standard deviations, counts, and proportions were used to describe the sociodemographic profile of the Critical Care Health Workers. Additionally, the association between variables was determined using the Chi-Square test of association/Fisher’s exact test and independent-sample T-test/Mann Whitney U test. Data presentation The results obtained from the quantitative study were presented in the form of tables, graphs, charts, and narratives. These specific visual aids were employed to facilitate the comparison and summarization of essential empirical data, survey responses, and demographics in forms that are easy to digest and understand at a glance. xv Study Findings As far as the outcomes of the research are concerned, it emerged that the prevalence of M.I. was at 55% among Critical Care Health Workers in the Kenyatta National Hospital. This represents a higher percentage than in comparative studies carried out in other locations. The information generated from this study will help influence policy on how best KNH should plan to cater to the mental well-being of healthcare professionals facing morally injurious events. Moreover, these findings will go a long way in spearheading the equipping of healthcare workers operating in Critical Care Units with comprehensive training on how to cope with challenges they may encounter, foster more robust resilience, and create a more sustainable health workforce