Table2.
CCN perceptions of frequency† and intensity‡ of morally distressing scenarios (n = 71).
| Dimensions with Item |
Mean (SD) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Intensity | |
| Dimension: Futile Care | ||
| 6. Continue to participate in the care of a hopelessly ill person who is being sustained on a ventilator when no one will make a decision to withdraw support | 2.23 (1.13) | 3.06 (1.23) |
| 3. Initiate extensive life-saving actions when I think they will only prolong death | 1.99 (1.06) | 2.91 (1.15) |
| 2. Follow the family’s wishes to continue life support, even though I believe it is not in the best interest of the patient | 1.72 (1.10) | 2.68 (1.27) |
| Dimension: Ethical Misconduct | ||
| 5. Feel pressure from others to order what I consider to be unnecessary tests and treatments | 1.63 (1.07) | 1.91 (1.21) |
| 9. Increase the dose of sedatives/opiates for an unconscious patient when I believe doing so could hasten the patient’s death | 1.04 (1.07) | 1.07 (1.18) |
| 7. Avoid taking action when I learn that a physician or nursing colleague made a medical error and did not report it | 1.03 (0.85) | 2.17 (1.27) |
| 11. Follow the family’s wishes for the patient’s care when I do not agree with them because of the fear of a lawsuit | 0.61 (0.94) | 1.57 (1.58) |
| 10. Take no action on an observed ethical issue because the involved staff member or someone in a position of authority requested that I do nothing | 0.43 (0.79) | 1.29 (1.54) |
| Dimension: Deceptive Communication | ||
| 1. Witness healthcare providers giving ‘false hope’ to the patient or family | 1.52 (1.04) | 2.29 (1.26) |
| 14. Ignore situations in which patients were not given adequate information to ensure informed consent | 0.88 (0.99) | 1.37 (1.22) |
| 4. Follow the family’s request not to discuss death with a dying patient when they ask about dying | 0.59 (0.75) | 1.79 (1.42) |
| Dimension: Poor Teamwork | ||
| 12. Watch patient-care quality suffer because of a lack of provider continuity | 2.43 (1.21) | 2.67 (1.22) |
| 13. Witness diminished patient-care quality due to poor team communication | 2.07 (1.15) | 2.66 (1.14) |
| 8. Assist another physician or nurse who, in my opinion, is providing incompetent care | 2.04 (1.22) | 3.01 (1.30) |
| †Frequency ranges from 0 (never) to 4 (very frequently) | ||
| ‡Intensity ranges from 0 (none) to 4 (to a great extent) | ||
| Items ranging from highest to lowest frequency in each dimension | ||