Moral injury in healthcare workers: An intervention to mitigate distress

BackgroundThe psychological distress of individuals working in high-stakes, value-based environments (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, and community health centers) is receiving growing recognition as moral injury (MI). While MI and other mental health challenges, like PTSD and burnout, have similarities and overlaps in symptoms, identification of these differences is essential, as the distinct needs of MI treatment require professionals to address its unique characteristics. Further, MI creates dual threats to healthcare operations, affecting workforce stability and individual psychological impact for healthcare workers themselves.Research aimThrough the lens of moral distress framework, our research investigates how a reading-based intervention impacts MI symptoms in healthcare employees.Research designThe research design utilized a 5-week plan to track MI symptoms before and after a self-led coping skill development treatment initiative.Participants and research contextIn total, 40 healthcare workers participated in the study. The majority of the participants were recruited from healthcare centers in Georgia and South Carolina, and a range of medical positions were represented including registered nurses, mental health therapists, emergency medical technicians, trauma technicians, obstetricians, and medical assistants.Ethical considerationsThe present study was approved by Valdosta State University's IRB (reference number 04607-2025). All participants remained anonymous.Findings/resultsOut of all participants, 48.7% experienced at least some improvement to their MI scores; 23.1% experienced notable improvements following the intervention.ConclusionsThe present study provides evidence for a reading-based, self-managed intervention having large impacts on healthcare providers with MI. These results suggest that self-directed interventions will not eliminate MI from an entire workforce but can be effective in providing assistance to individuals, especially those who are already exhibiting high levels of MI.