The issue of moral distress in community pharmacy practice: background and research agenda

Abstract

To date, the incidence of moral distress among UK-based community pharmacists remains unexamined. Research must be undertaken to determine what situations cause the highest instances of moral distress for community pharmacists, and the extent to which these pharmacists experience moral distress in their working lives.

Expectations and responsibilities regarding the sale of complementary medicines in pharmacies: perspectives of consumers and pharmacy support staff

“…[30][31][32] "Moral uncertainty" arises when the professional is unclear on what the ethically appropriate action is. The pharmacy support staff in this study expressed a limited moral sensitivity in relation to the sale of complementary medicines.…”

“…To experience "moral distress" a professional needs to feel there is an ethically correct action and be constrained, in one way or another, from performing that action. [30][31][32] "Moral uncertainty" arises when the professional is unclear on what the ethically appropriate action is. To experience either of these, the professional needs to be aware that there is an ethical dimension to the action under consideration, that is, the professional needs to possess "moral sensitivity".…”

Work-related stress, associated comorbidities and stress causes in French community pharmacies: a nationwide cross-sectional study

“…Health professionals are exposed to specific stress factors such as increasing workload, emotional response to patient suffering, organizational problems and conflicts ( Ruotsalainen et al, 2015 ). The highly regulated working environment of health professionals may also lead to moral distress caused by antagonism between ethical challenges and structural constraints ( Astbury, Gallagher & O’Neill, 2015 ).…”

Moral dilemmas reflect professional core values of pharmacists in community pharmacy

“…For example, pharmacists may decline to provide pharmaceuticals for euthanasia. Such convictions may conflict with professional core values and subsequently cause moral distress . To avoid moral distress, pharmacists could proactively make agreements to refer patients in need of euthanasia to other pharmacists who have no such convictions.…”

“…Such convictions may conflict with professional core values and subsequently cause moral distress. [33] To avoid moral distress, pharmacists could proactively make agreements to refer patients in need of euthanasia to other pharmacists who have no such convictions. Conflicting values and moral distress also occur among other health professions.…”