Table 1.

Definition of moral sensitivity – a synthesis of relevant literature

Scholars & experts / definitions	Study participants	Characteristic attributes	Categories of characteristics
Lin20 said that one must be able to recognize and care about the real feelings and needs of others.	Nurses	Awareness and concern for the true feelings and needs of others	Patient-centered care
Blum21 said that the characteristic of the sensitive moral perception sensitivity serves as an agency to understand the comfort of his/her existence, and this sensitivity cannot be separated from ethical principles and norms.	No participants	Perceiving whether a person’s existence is comfortable or not
Kim22 said that moral sensitivity is a personal characteristic and a contributing factor in determining patient well-being; relevant factors such as institutional policies, personal practical experience, contextual knowledge, as well as honest and virtuous motivation are all centered on providing a good life for the case.	Nurses	Perceiving what is good for the case and centered on providing a good life for the case.
Lützén27 and Gastmans26 said that moral sensitivity allows a person to be self-aware of his or her role and responsibilities in situations of moral conflict.	Nurses / physicians / nursing assistants	Being self-aware of one’s role and responsibilities in situations of moral conflict	Professional roles and responsibilities
Lützén23 said that moral sensitivity is the moral values and self awareness of one’s role and responsibilities involved in “paying attention” to a conflicting situation.	No participants	Self-awareness of one’s role and responsibilities
Lützén23 said that moral sensitivity is not only a “feeling” but also a human ability that is acquired through personal experience and can “feel” the moral significance of a situation!	No participants	Moral meaning as perceived by personal experience	Moral meaning
Lützén25 said that the ability of an individual to recognize an ethical conflict that exists in the interpersonal relationship between caregivers and patients.	Psychiatric nurses	Identifying ethical conflicts in the nurse-patient relationship	Moral conflicts
Park2 stated that ethical conflicts that the nurse is confronted with when making decisions for a patient who is perceived to be in a moral conflict position because of illness.	Nursing students	Moral conflicts
Heggestad24 stated that sensing the necessity to protect the privacy of a case.	Qualitative researcher	Ability to recognize when a case is likely to be harmed	Principle of nonmaleficence
Park2 stated that ethical conflicts that the nurse is confronted with when making decisions for a patient who is perceived to be in a vulnerable position because of illness.	Nursing students	Ability to recognize when a case is likely to be harmed
Heggestad24 stated that the ability to respect the autonomy of the case.	Qualitative researcher	Respect the autonomy of the case	Principle of autonomy
Rest19 stated that the potential of one’s actions to affect the well-being of others.	No participants	Knowing the effectiveness of behavioral outcomes	Principle of beneficence