Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective: cultural adaptation and validation of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire to assess moral sensitivity among Brazilian nurses. Method: methodological study with 106 nurses from two hospitals located in the south of Brazil. The instrument was culturally adapted according to international guidelines, following six steps: translation, reconciliation of translated versions, back translation, expert panel, pretest, and final review. The Brazilian version was validated in the Brazilian context using factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha. Results: after the expert panel’s assessment, pretest, and verification of face and content validity, the instrument was considered satisfactory to be applied among Brazilian nurses. Six constructs were identified: Respect for patients’ autonomy, modified autonomy, experiencing moral conflict, having confidence in medical and nursing knowledge, structuring moral meanings, and teamwork. The instrument presented satisfactory internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha equal to 0.62; the Cronbach’s alpha of the six constructs ranged from 0.60 to 0.67. Conclusion: the Brazilian version of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire is valid and reliable to be applied among Brazilian nurses and can improve understanding of factors involving decision-making when facing ethical conflicts.
Highlights
Moral sensitivity includes an individual’s experiences and personal development along with others’ experiences
The Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ) comprises 30 questions distributed into six dimensions: interpersonal orientation, structuring moral meaning, expressing benevolence, modifying autonomy, and having confidence in medical knowledge.[4]
The expert panel reached a consensus in all the items, considering them pertinent and reporting their semantic, cultural, idiomatic, and conceptual equivalence
Summary
Moral sensitivity includes an individual’s experiences and personal development along with others’ experiences. Conflicts may occur due to miscommunication within the staff, insufficient knowledge of workers, or different aspects that permeate the care delivery routine.[3] When experiencing ethical conflicts during daily practice, nurses are required to make decisions, especially when a patient is in a vulnerable situation. Moral sensitivity in this context is a personal attribute that is necessary to deal with conflicts and understand the consequences of decision-making.[4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
