A quasi-experimental study on the impact of a moral motivation program on moral courage among rehabilitation nurses

BACKGROUND: Moral courage enables healthcare professionals to advocate for patients’ rights and ethical practice. Among rehabilitation nurses, who frequently encounter ethical dilemmas, the cultivation of moral courage is particularly crucial. This study investigates the efficacy of a moral motivation program designed to enhance moral courage among rehabilitation nurses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study involved 27 selected nurses from different wards of a rehabilitation hospital that randomly allocated in two experiment and control groups. Data collection included a demographics questionnaire and the Sekerka’s Moral Courage Scale, administered before and, four weeks later on the intervention. The program consisted of two workshop sessions and a follow-up training which totally last four weeks for the experimental group, no training for the control group. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 with descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The results of the independent t -test indicate a statistical difference in nurses’ moral courage one month after the intervention between the two groups ( P value = 0.018). The changes in moral courage between the control and intervention groups are significant ( P value < 0.001). Additionally, the independent t -test results show a statistical difference in the changes of nurses’ moral courage immediately after the intervention compared to before ( P value < 0.001), as well as between before and one month after the intervention, between the two groups ( P value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a moral motivation program significantly improved moral courage among rehabilitation nurses, with lasting effects observed one month after the intervention. The results suggest that similar interventions could be beneficial in other healthcare fields, such as critical care, oncology, and mental health, to enhance ethical decision-making and patient advocacy.