Clinicians' moral distress and family satisfaction in the intensive care unit

This study explored the relationship between clinicians’ moral distress and family satisfaction with care in five intensive care units in Italy. A total of 122 clinicians (45 physicians and 77 nurses) and 59 family members completed the Italian Moral Distress Scale-Revised and the Family Satisfaction in the ICU questionnaire, respectively. Clinicians’ moral distress inversely correlated with family satisfaction related to the inclusion in the decision-making process. Specifically, physicians’ moral distress inversely correlated with satisfaction regarding the respect shown toward the patient. Nurses’ moral distress inversely correlated with satisfaction regarding breathlessness and agitation management, provision of emotional support, understanding of information, and inclusion in the decision-making process.