Organizational Impact on Healthcare Workers' Moral Injury During COVID-19 A Mixed-Methods Analysis

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore relationships between organizational factors and moral injury among healthcare workers and the impact of perceptions of their leaders and organizations during COVID-19. BACKGROUND COVID-19 placed healthcare workers at risk for moral injury, which often involves feeling betrayed by people with authority and can impact workplace culture. METHODS Secondary data from a Web-based survey of mid-Atlantic healthcare workers were analyzed using mixed methods. Data were synthesized using the Reina Trust & Betrayal Model. RESULTS Fifty-five percent (n = 328/595) of respondents wrote comments. Forty-one percent (n = 134/328) of commenters had moral injury scores of 36 or higher. Three themes emerged: organizational infrastructure, support from leaders, and palliative care involvement. Respondents outlined organizational remedies, which were organized into 5 domains. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest healthcare workers feel trust was breached by their organizations' leaders during COVID-19. Further study is needed to understand intersections between organizational factors and moral injury to enhance trust within healthcare organizations.

Automated summary

This study aimed to explore the relationships between organizational factors and moral injury among healthcare workers, as well as the impact of perceptions of leaders and organizations during COVID-19. The findings suggest that healthcare workers felt betrayed by their organizations' leaders during the pandemic, highlighting the need for further research to enhance trust within healthcare organizations.