J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Educ.  2023 Feb;29(1):51-59. 10.5977/jkasne.2023.29.1.51.

The influence of hospital nurses’ moral sensitivity and ethical values on their biomedical ethics awareness

• Lee Y
• Lee JE

• KMID: 2539847
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2023.29.1.51

Abstract

Purpose
This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to examine the influence of nurses’ moral sensitivity and ethical values on their biomedical ethics awareness.
Methods
The study participants included 140 registered nurses working at three hospitals in Jeollabuk-do Province over six months. The data were collected from June 22 to July 3, 2020, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression analysis with the IBM SPSS/WIN 20.0 program.
Results
As a result of an analysis using stepwise multiple regression, nurses’ biomedical ethics awareness was found to be significantly influenced by ethical values (β=.36, p<.001), moral sensitivity (β=.21, p=.007), and education in biomedical ethics (β=.16, p=.042) (adjusted R²=.21, p<.001).
Conclusion
These findings suggest that moral sensitivity and ethical values are key factors in hospital nurses’ development of biomedical ethics. Furthermore, the devising and implementing of a practical education program based on practical cases in medical situations to enhance nurses’ biomedical ethics awareness is needed.

Keyword

Bioethics, Awareness, Nurses; 생명윤리, 인식, 간호사