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

Context: Patient’s rights are one of the most fundamental rights that should be considered by the healthcare 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.