Morally harmful experiences and emotions of health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic prior to vaccination.

JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(11):e2136150. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36150

Commentary

Moral injury among health professionals (HPs) has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trauma and burnout associated with moral injury are also of concern.

This study was investigating the association of moral injury in patients with HPs involved during the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the start of vaccination in 2020.

HPs were targeted in a qualitative survey, conducted by snowball sampling via email and social media from April 24 to May 30, 2020 (Phase 1) and October 1831 respondents reported moral injury, endogenous religiosity, and burnout. Demographic questions about moral injury, endogenous religiosity, and burnout were answered.

Results showed that HPs face a number of stressors, including fear of contagion, stigma, understaffing, and inadequate personal protective equipment; on the emotional side, they reported fear, fatigue, isolation and alienation, and betrayal.