Phenomenology of moral distress: implications for the humanization of medical education and practice

Abstract

In the healthcare context, moral distress (MD) refers to the negative emotions that arise when a person knows the correct course of action in a given situation but is not able to follow it due to personal, hierarchical or institutional impediments. MD has been related to various professional problems, such as vocational disorientation, low work motivation, depersonalized treatment of patients, abandonment of duties, and changes of specialty or profession. Although this phenomenon has not been sufficiently studied in Chile, it presumably exists and would have even increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving its repercussions unknown. Accordingly, this article has the objectives, firstly, to promote the phenomenological study of MD in our country, considering the importance of preventing its potential adverse impact on the mental health of future professionals, and, secondly, to highlight the need to include narrative approaches in medical education, in order to develop a more holistic approach to understanding patients and their condition of vulnerability. Ultimately, it is expected that addressing the implications of MD in medical education and practice will contribute to its humanization, optimizing the quality of healthcare.