Investigating Moral Distress in Clinical Research Professionals—A Deep Dive into Troubled Waters
2025

Understanding Moral Distress in Clinical Research Professionals

Sample size: 10 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Elena Bosack, Dawn Bourne, Elizabeth Epstein, Mary Faith Marshall, Donna T. Chen

Primary Institution: University of Virginia

Hypothesis

What are the root causes of moral distress experienced by clinical research professionals?

Conclusion

Moral distress in clinical research professionals arises from various factors, including financial pressures and ethical dilemmas regarding participant care.

Supporting Evidence

  • Moral distress is linked to financial pressures and ethical dilemmas faced by clinical research professionals.
  • Participants expressed concerns about the integrity of research and the welfare of study participants.
  • Many interviewees reported feeling powerless due to hierarchical structures in clinical research.

Takeaway

Clinical research professionals sometimes feel really sad or stressed because they can't always do what they think is right for the people they are helping.

Methodology

Qualitative descriptive study using open-ended interviews with clinical research professionals.

Potential Biases

Self-selection of participants may lead to a non-representative sample of clinical research professionals.

Limitations

The sample is not statistically representative, and participants self-selected, which may bias the findings.

Participant Demographics

Participants included a diverse group of clinical research professionals with varying years of experience and backgrounds.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/eahr.60006

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