Table 3 Differences of moral sensitivity and ethical decision-making by general characteristics of the participants

Age (year)

 ≤ 29 (79)^a

30–39 (52)^b

 ≥ 40(40)^c

123.8 ± 13.5

125.8 ± 12.6

128.1 ± 14.5

249.3 ± 28.5

251.4 ± 26.2

265.1 ± 23

0.008

a = b < c

142.4 ± 16.3

144.0 ± 14.0

149.2 ± 11.9

45.6 ± 7.5

46.7 ± 7.0

50.4 ± 7.6

0.004

a < c

61.3 ± 9.6

60.7 ± 8.9

65.5 ± 8.2

0.025

b < c

Gender

Male (9)

Female (162)

122.8 ± 7.9

125.5 ± 13.7

245.9 ± 24.1

254.0 ± 27.5

0.386

140.1 ± 11.2

144.7 ± 15.0

44.8 ± 5.5

47.2 ± 7.7

0.360

61.0 ± 11.1

62.1 ± 9.1

0.717

Marital status

Single (104)

Married (67)

123.8 ± 12.0

127.9 ± 15.3

249.2 ± 28.3

260.5 ± 24.4

0.008

142.1 ± 15.6

148.1 ± 12.9

46.0 ± 7.4

48.7 ± 7.6

0.022

61.1 ± 9.4

63.7 ± 8.8

0.074

Education (degree)

BSN or lower (151)

MSN or higher (20)

125.3 ± 13.5

126.1 ± 14.0

252.7 ± 26.6

260.7 ± 32.5

0.217

144.0 ± 14.9

148.2 ± 14.7

46.8 ± 7.1

48.9 ± 10.4

0.390

61.9 ± 9.1

63.5 ± 10.2

0.452

Religion

Yes (89)

No (81)

126.3 ± 13.7

124.6 ± 13.3

255.1 ± 28.5

252.6 ± 25.6

0.537

145.5 ± 14.7

143.8 ± 14.5

47.1 ± 8.1

47.0 ± 7.0

0.890

62.5 ± 9.3

61.8 ± 9.1

0.637

Current clinical department

Oncology/general/hospice Unit (81)

Intensive Care Unit (88)

127.5 ± 13.5

123.7 ± 13.4

260.7 ± 28.6

247.2 ± 24.8

0.001

148.0 ± 14.7

141.2 ± 14.4

48.3 ± 8.6

45.8 ± 6.3

0.034

64.3 ± 9.1

60.1 ± 8.9

0.003

Total clinical experience (yrs)

1–5 years (60)^a

5–10 years (52)^b

 > 10 years (59) ^c

123.4 ± 13.0

126.0 ± 13.8

126.9 ± 13.8

249.5 ± 28.2

248.9 ± 28.0

261.9 ± 24.2

0.015

a = b < c

142.5 ± 16.0

142.1 ± 15.5

148.6 ± 12.2

46.0 ± 7.3

45.5 ± 7.0

49.5 ± 7.8

0.007

a = b < c

61.0 ± 9.4

61.4 ± 9.9

63.8 ± 8.3

0.223

Current department experience (yrs)

0–5 years (96)

5–10 years (53)

 > 10 years (20)

124.6 ± 13.0

126.0 ± 14.1

126.0 ± 14.1

251.9 ± 28.1

253.9 ± 28.8

260.8 ± 17.1

0.412

143.6 ± 15.0

144.8 ± 15.9

148.2 ± 10.4

46.7 ± 7.7

46.8 ± 7.9

49.2 ± 5.7

0.382

61.6 ± 9.7

62.2 ± 9.3

63.3 ± 6.6

0.725

Experience in nursing ethics education

None (27)^a

1–10 h (105)^b

 > 10 h (38)^c

123.7 ± 11.2

124.1 ± 13.0

130.2 ± 15.5

237.6 ± 19.7

251.2 ± 27.6

270.5 ± 21.8

 < 0.001

a < b < c

137.0 ± 12.2

143.8 ± 15.6

151.2 ± 11.4

43.0 ± 4.7

45.9 ± 7.2

52.6 ± 7.3

 < 0.001

a = b < c

57.5 ± 7.2

61.5 ± 9.7

66.8 ± 7.0

 < 0.001

a = b < c

Experience of ethical dilemma

(within a week)

Yes (48)

No (114)

130.7 ± 15.1

123.7 ± 12.3

256.4 ± 27.8

252.7 ± 27.3

0.436

144.2 ± 15.5

144.4 ± 14.9

48.3 ± 7.5

46.8 ± 7.6

0.231

63.9 ± 9.2

61.6 ± 8.9

0.131

Job satisfaction

1–3 (8)^a

4–6 (75)^b

7–10 (88)^c

123.1 ± 5.9

123.1 ± 12.5

127.6 ± 14.5

240.1 ± 26.2

244.8 ± 27.9

262.4 ± 24.1

 < 0.001

b < c

138.8 ± 15.3

139.9 ± 16.6

148.9 ± 11.7

41.6 ± 6.6

45.8 ± 6.8

48.6 ± 7.9

0.007

a < c

59.8 ± 9.1

59.1 ± 9.2

64.8 ± 8.5

 < 0.001

b < c

Ethical conflict score

1–3 (18)^a

4–6 (90)^b

7–10 (63)^c

121.1 ± 11.3

121.1 ± 11.6

132.8 ± 13.6

268.1 ± 20.4

245.1 ± 29.1

261.6 ± 22.1

 < 0.001

b < a = c

154.2 ± 11.4

140.6 ± 16.1

147.2 ± 11.8

47.6 ± 7.1

45.4 ± 7.5

49.2 ± 7.3

0.008

b < c

66.2 ± 5.8

59.1 ± 9.5

65.2 ± 8.1

 < 0.001

b < a = c