Year: 2026 | Month: July-September | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 114-119
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20260314
Prevalence of Moral Distress Among Physiotherapists in Anand District of Gujarat
Ershad Ansari1, Brijesh Acharya2, Heer Dave3, Jhanvi Darji4, Nasrin Mirza5
K. M. Patel Institute of Physiotherapy, Bhaikaka University, Anand, India.
Corresponding Author: Ershad Ansari
ABSTRACT
Background: Moral distress occurs when healthcare professionals recognise the ethically appropriate course of action but are unable to act because of institutional or external constraints. Persistent moral distress can negatively affect professional well-being, job satisfaction, and the quality of patient care.
Objective: To determine the prevalence, severity, and factors associated with moral distress among physiotherapists in Anand district, Gujarat.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 68 GSCPT-registered physiotherapists practicing in clinical settings. Moral distress was assessed using the Measure of Moral Distress–Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and independent t-tests were performed to compare mean Moral distress scores according to gender and area of practice. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 22.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: The mean moral distress score was 81.5 ± 57.8. Moderate moral distress was observed in 16.2% of participants, while 83.8% reported low to mild distress. No statistically significant differences were found according to gender (p=0.700) or area of practice (p=0.397). Domain-wise analysis showed that the Interpersonal Relations domain had the highest mean item score (3.38).
Conclusion: Although most physiotherapists experienced low to mild moral distress, approximately one in six reported moderate distress. Among the MMD-HP domains, Interpersonal relations, therapeutic obstinacy, and healthcare-related factors demonstrated relatively higher mean item scores, highlighting the need for institutional ethics support and strategies to reduce moral distress and promote professional well-being.
Keywords: Moral distress, Physiotherapist, Moral Distress–Healthcare Professionals, Cross-sectional study