Moral injury among western healthcare missionaries: a qualitative study
Introduction Moral injury among healthcare missionaries leads to negative consequences for the individual, healthcare team, patients, and sending agencies. Conflicting values in clinical care, culture, and spirituality provide unique potentially morally injurious experiences. The purpose of this qua...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Health for All Nations
2023-10-01
|
| Series: | Christian Journal for Global Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journal.cjgh.org/index.php/cjgh/article/view/839/1163 |
| _version_ | 1797644956439937024 |
|---|---|
| author | Jason Paltzer James Ritchie Doug Lindberg Michael Toppe Andrew Theisz Taylor Van Brocklin |
| author_facet | Jason Paltzer James Ritchie Doug Lindberg Michael Toppe Andrew Theisz Taylor Van Brocklin |
| author_sort | Jason Paltzer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Moral injury among healthcare missionaries leads to negative consequences for the individual, healthcare team, patients, and sending agencies. Conflicting values in clinical care, culture, and spirituality provide unique potentially morally injurious experiences. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the phenomenon of moral injury among western healthcare missionaries to develop effective support and treatment strategies. Methods A qualitative interview guide was developed based on the existing literature on moral injury. Twenty-one key informant interviews were completed by two former healthcare missionaries. Participants were based in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe healthcare mission settings. Questions were based on clinical, cultural, and spiritual domains of potential ethical and moral conflicts. Protective factors were also explored based on one’s faith and spiritual practices. Interviews were transcribed and coded independently by two analysts. The team reviewed the codes and determined themes from across the three domains. Results Seven themes emerged from the interviews ranging from morally injurious experiences with cultural leadership practices and unfamiliar clinical care experiences to guilt over practicing outside of one’s scope of practice and addressing suffering alongside God’s sovereignty. The themes led to the development of an injury/growth pathway as a potential model for helping healthcare missionaries describe and move through potentially morally injurious experiences. Conclusion The themes allow for healthcare missionary sending agencies to develop strategies, training, and support systems for teams preparing to enter the mission field and for individuals already in the field. Recommendations for growing through potentially morally injurious experiences are suggested to guide practice and support for missionaries in the field. The growth values and strategies could inform the development of a screening tool to assess moral injury among healthcare missionaries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T14:39:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5163b71d6d4646a0a34fa1f909d1d8ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-2415 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T14:39:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Health for All Nations |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Christian Journal for Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-5163b71d6d4646a0a34fa1f909d1d8ef2023-10-30T15:17:34ZengHealth for All NationsChristian Journal for Global Health2167-24152023-10-01102587310.15566/cjgh.v10i2.839839Moral injury among western healthcare missionaries: a qualitative studyJason Paltzer0James Ritchie1Doug Lindberg2Michael Toppe3Andrew Theisz4Taylor Van Brocklin5MPH, PhD, Founder/director, The Meros Center and visiting professor, Wisconsin Lutheran College, USAMD, Longevity Project, MedSend, USAMD, Director, Center for Advancing Healthcare Missions, Christian Medical and Dental Associations, USADMSC, PA, Associate Professor, Physician Assistant Studies, Marquette University, USAMSW(c), Concordia University, USAStudent Enrolment Counsellor, Concordia University, USAIntroduction Moral injury among healthcare missionaries leads to negative consequences for the individual, healthcare team, patients, and sending agencies. Conflicting values in clinical care, culture, and spirituality provide unique potentially morally injurious experiences. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the phenomenon of moral injury among western healthcare missionaries to develop effective support and treatment strategies. Methods A qualitative interview guide was developed based on the existing literature on moral injury. Twenty-one key informant interviews were completed by two former healthcare missionaries. Participants were based in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe healthcare mission settings. Questions were based on clinical, cultural, and spiritual domains of potential ethical and moral conflicts. Protective factors were also explored based on one’s faith and spiritual practices. Interviews were transcribed and coded independently by two analysts. The team reviewed the codes and determined themes from across the three domains. Results Seven themes emerged from the interviews ranging from morally injurious experiences with cultural leadership practices and unfamiliar clinical care experiences to guilt over practicing outside of one’s scope of practice and addressing suffering alongside God’s sovereignty. The themes led to the development of an injury/growth pathway as a potential model for helping healthcare missionaries describe and move through potentially morally injurious experiences. Conclusion The themes allow for healthcare missionary sending agencies to develop strategies, training, and support systems for teams preparing to enter the mission field and for individuals already in the field. Recommendations for growing through potentially morally injurious experiences are suggested to guide practice and support for missionaries in the field. The growth values and strategies could inform the development of a screening tool to assess moral injury among healthcare missionaries.https://journal.cjgh.org/index.php/cjgh/article/view/839/1163moral injuryhealthcare missionsspiritual determinantsburnoutmissionary retentionmedical missionary supportresilience |
| spellingShingle | Jason Paltzer James Ritchie Doug Lindberg Michael Toppe Andrew Theisz Taylor Van Brocklin Moral injury among western healthcare missionaries: a qualitative study Christian Journal for Global Health moral injury healthcare missions spiritual determinants burnout missionary retention medical missionary support resilience |
| title | Moral injury among western healthcare missionaries: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Moral injury among western healthcare missionaries: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Moral injury among western healthcare missionaries: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Moral injury among western healthcare missionaries: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Moral injury among western healthcare missionaries: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | moral injury among western healthcare missionaries a qualitative study |
| topic | moral injury healthcare missions spiritual determinants burnout missionary retention medical missionary support resilience |
| url | https://journal.cjgh.org/index.php/cjgh/article/view/839/1163 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jasonpaltzer moralinjuryamongwesternhealthcaremissionariesaqualitativestudy AT jamesritchie moralinjuryamongwesternhealthcaremissionariesaqualitativestudy AT douglindberg moralinjuryamongwesternhealthcaremissionariesaqualitativestudy AT michaeltoppe moralinjuryamongwesternhealthcaremissionariesaqualitativestudy AT andrewtheisz moralinjuryamongwesternhealthcaremissionariesaqualitativestudy AT taylorvanbrocklin moralinjuryamongwesternhealthcaremissionariesaqualitativestudy |