Table 2.

Mean Likert-scale scores of the MCSP and the PMC scale, divided by gender

	Female	Male	P-value
MCSP items
1. I do what is right for my patients, even if I experience opposing social pressures (e.g., opposition from senior members of the healthcare team, medical guidelines, etc.)	5.003±1.31	5.07±1.49	0.766
2. I use a guiding set of principles from my profession to help determine the right thing to do for my patients.	5.76±1.52	5.64±1.12	0.277
3. My patients and colleagues can rely on me to exemplify moral behavior.	5.89±0.96	5.67±1.12	0.380
4. I do what is right for my patients because it is the ethical thing to do.	6.31±0.85	6.07±1.09	0.402
5. I go above and beyond what is required to do what is right for my patients.	4.87±1.41	4.60±1.56	0.383
6. When faced with ethical dilemmas in patient care, I consider how both my professional values and my personal values apply to the situation before making decisions.	6.16±1.17	5.38±1.06	0.000
7. When I do the right thing for my patients, my motives are pure.	6.31±1.00	5.52±1.49	0.005
8. I do what is right for my patients, even if it puts me at risk (e.g., legal risk, risk to reputation, etc.).	4.29±1.77	4.02±2.01	0.611
9. I am determined to do the right thing for my patients.	6.62±0.75	6.36±0.98	0.162
PMC items
Theme 1: moral agency	6.13±0.82	5.99±0.83	0.424
1. I am determined to do the right thing.
2. Others can rely on me to exemplify moral behavior.
3. Engaging in principled action is an ongoing pursuit for me.
Theme 2: multiple values	5.06±0.96	4.78±1.21	0.437
4. I draw on my personal values to help determine what is right.
5. I draw on the values of those around me to help determine what is right.
6. I draw on my professional values to help determine what is right.
Theme 3: endurance of threats	5.88±0.98	5.36±1.19	0.032
7. I hold my ground on moral matters, even if there are opposing social pressures.
8. I act morally even if it puts me in an uncomfortable position with my superiors.
Theme 4: going beyond compliance	5.89±0.82	5.52±0.98	0.058
9. I consider more than rules and regulations in deciding what is right.
10. I proactively aspire to behave morally.
Theme 5: moral goals	5.87±1.08	5.52±0.99	0.041
11. When I act morally, my motives are virtuous.
12. I act morally because it is the right thing to do.

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation.

MCSP, Moral Courage Scale for Physicians; PMC, Professional Moral Courage.