Moral injury and psychological resilience among healthcare professionals amid COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives: The present research studied moral injury and psychological resilience in healthcare professionals amid COVID-19 pandemic. Relationship between moral injury and resilience was explored in addition to finding the difference in study variables based on socio-demographics factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional research was carried out from August 2020 to January 2021. A sample of 108 healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff was collected through purposive sampling technique. Data was gathered through face-to-face survey method and online forum using psychometrically sound tools.

Results: Findings revealed that more than two third of the sample (69.44%) has high level of moral injury which is clinically significant while only 30.56% fall within normal range. Moral injury has significant positive correlation with number of work hours (p < .05) whereas negative correlation with resilience (p < .01) and years of experience (p < .05). Women and health care professionals belonging to psychiatry department have reported to experience significantly high level of moral injury (p < .01).

Conclusion: The findings of the study are helpful for stakeholders of health care system to better understand and prepare for the situations that brings moral injury and challenge psychological resilience particularly in times of pandemic, humanitarian crisis, or natural disasters.