A commonly reported area of moral distress for occupational therapy practitioners is:
A) Patient deaths
B) Pressure for billable units
C) Unethical colleagues
D) Disrespectful patients

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A recent study of occupational therapy practitioners working in skilled nursing facilities examined the relationship between productivity demands and incidents of perceived moral distress (Smith-Gabal, Kuzminski, & Eldridge, 2018). No difference was found between occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants in levels of moral distress. While the researchers did not find a statistically significant relationship between productivity demands and perceived level of moral distress, the average score indicated a minimal to moderate level of moral distress. Expectations that were linked to the highest level of moral distress include (Smith-Gabal et al., 2018, p. 25):
• "Being expected to obtain as many billable units as possible per client regardless of individual client needs"
• "Being unable to provide optimal therapy services because of limited insurance coverage or insurance cutoffs reported"
• "Being expected to treat and/or write documentation for more clients than time allows"
In addition, they found a statistically significant relationship in levels of moral distress between those who were planning on leaving their position versus those who were staying. Smith-Gabal et al. (2018) recommend that moral distress be recognized and addressed through strategies to improve communication, increase professional development opportunities, and enhance coping skills.

A Commonly Reported Area of Moral Distress for Occupational Therapy