Saf Health Work.  2023 Mar;14(1):78-84. 10.1016/j.shaw.2022.12.002.

The Effect of Occupational Moral Injury on Career Abandonment Intention Among Physicians in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Sert-Ozen A
• Kalaycioglu O

• KMID: 2541278
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2022.12.002

Abstract

Background
Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians have been the unsung heroes of the pandemic. However, many are about to give up the battlefield. This study investigated the effect of occupational moral injury on physicians' career abandonment intention, taking into account the possible mediating role of emotional exhaustion.
Methods
Cross-sectional data collected from 201 physicians were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS to determine the relationship among physicians' moral injuries, emotional exhaustion, and career abandonment intention.
Results
The results indicated that occupational moral injury was positively related to emotional exhaustion and career abandonment intention. In addition, emotional exhaustion was found to play a mediating role in the relationship.
Conclusion
To reduce physicians' intention to leave their career, physicians should be prepared for moral injury and psychological issues by offering psychological support and meeting their needs early at both the individual and organizational levels during and after the pandemic.

Keyword

Career abandonment intention; Emotional exhaustion; Moral injury; Physicians