Assessing nurses' moral distress and patients' satisfaction with the observance of the patients' rights charter

Abstract

Context: Patient's rights are one of the most fundamental rights that should be considered by the health-care providers, especially nurses. On the other hand, moral distress in nurses can lead to problems in the provision of health services for patients.Aims: This study aimed to determine the correlation between nurses' moral distress (NMD) and patients' satisfaction with the observance of the patients' rights charter (PRC).Setting and Design: In this descriptive-analytic study, 82 nurses were selected using purpose-based method, and 200 patients were selected in quotas in proportion to the number of beds available in the general and special wards in 2 months.Materials and Methods: Data collection tools consisted of demographic information form, the moral distress scale-revised, and a researcher-made questionnaire on patient satisfaction with the observance of PRC.Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical in SPSS version 16.Results: The mean score of moral distress in nurses was11 ± 33 that 59 (72%) of them had moderate distress level and the mean score of satisfaction with the observance of the charter of patients' rights was 71.6± 18.2. It was found that 120 (60%) of the patients had a satisfactory moderate level of the observance of their rights charter. There was a reverse statistically significant positive correlation between NMD and satisfaction with the observance of the PRC (P < 0.05).Conclusion: In the present study, it was found that there is a moderate correlation between the patients' satisfaction with the observance of the PRC and the NMD.