A study on the correlation between emotional intelligence and moral distress in oncology nurses

Abstract

Objective To investigate the current situation of oncology nurse moral distress and the influence of the emotional intelligence on moral distress. Methods The emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) and moral distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R) were used to investigate 350 oncology nurses from 6 tertiary hospitals in Xi'an city from February to March in 2022. Results Nurses’ emotional Intelligence Scale Score was 62.10±16.06, which was in the middle level. Nurses’ moral distress Scale-Revised Score was 54.40±30.29, which was at the medium and high level. The total score of emotional intelligence and its dimensions are negatively correlated with moral distress (P<0.05).Regression analysis showed that age, working hours , title and dimensions of emotional intelligence affected the moral distress, which could explain 42.6% of the moral distress (P<0.05). Conclusions The moral distress level of oncology nurses is higher, emotional intelligence has a certain predictive effect on moral distress, suggesting that nursing managers can improve the emotional intelligence of nurses to reduce moral distress level, and maintain the stability of nursing staff.