Ms Natasha Peet2, Ms. Helen Nelson1, Ms. Ljubinka Paceska1, A/Prof. Danielle Hitch1,2
1Western Health, St. Albans, Australia, 2Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
Biography:
Natasha Peet is an early career occupational therapist with experience across community, subacute rehabilitation and paediatric clinical settings. Passionate about person-centered care, she is dedicated to supporting individuals in achieving meaningful engagement in daily life. Her professional interests include interdisciplinary collaboration and improving healthcare practices to enhance patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Currently working at National360, Natasha actively participates in professional development opportunities, knowledge sharing and mentorship to support the growth of the occupational therapy profession. Her ongoing interests include advocating for occupational therapy’s role across all settings, exploring innovative interventions and fostering resilience among clinicians.
This presentation will share findings from a study examining moral distress among occupational therapists in a major Australian metropolitan health service, highlighting its impact on practice and workforce wellbeing. Moral distress is the emotional and ethical discomfort experienced when clinicians cannot act according to their values due to systemic constraints. The concept has been underexplored in allied health practice, particularly in the Australian context.
This mixed-methods study utilised the Measure of Moral Distress-Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP) survey (n=35) and semi-structured interviews (n=10) with occupational therapists at the health service. Their perceptions, experiences, and coping mechanisms were analysed using descriptive quantitative statistics and reflexive thematic analysis.
The study identified system-level constraints—such as resource shortages and administrative pressures—as the primary drivers of moderate moral distress, with over half of participants considering or having left positions due to its effects. Team-level factors were less distressing, yet the lack of structured support exacerbated feelings of powerlessness and burnout risk. However, clinical supervision was seen as a valuable source of support for clinicians experiencing moral distress.
The study underscores the urgent need for systemic interventions, including enhanced supervision, resilience training, and resource allocation, to address moral distress. These measures can improve job satisfaction, retention, and patient care quality. By integrating these findings into practice and education, allied health managers can better support clinicians navigating ethical challenges in resource-constrained environments.