Table 2 Moral distress score and standard deviation per profession with Games–Howell correction for differences between professions

Nurse (n = 355)

Intensivist (n = 41)

Supporting staff (n = 108)

N–I^b

N–S^c

I–S^d

Overall moral distress score

2.97 (2.06)

2.56 (1.38)

2.09 (1.71)

0.22

 < 0.001

0.19

Factors

1. Suboptimal patientcare due to organizational restrictions

5.01 (3.45)

3.34 (2.39)

2.77 (2.51)

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

0.40

2. Inadequate emotional support for patients and their families

5.73 (3.89)

6.20 (3.27)

4.63 (3.91)

0.67

0.030

 < 0.05

3. Fear of contamination

3.86 (4.28)

3.59 (3.86)

3.77 (3.86)

0.91

0.98

0.97

4. Collaboration with patients and their families

1.54 (1.75)

1.53 (1.29)

0.78 (1.11)

1.00

 < 0.001

 < 0.05

5. Culture of fear and hierarchy

0.85 (1.54)

1.03 (1.31)

0.53 (0.91)

0.69

 < 0.05

 < 0.05

6. Administrative burden

2.96 (3.61)

2.43 (2.63)

2.07 (2.82)

0.47

 < 0.05

0.76

7. Disproportional and aimless care

2.68 (2.76)

1.83 (1.55)

1.49 (1.77)

0.010

 < 0.001

0.50