Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Ethical conflicts experienced by intensive care unit health professionals in a regional hospital, Limpopo province, South Africa
Submitted: 07 May 2018 | Published: 16 April 2020
About the author(s)
Dorah U. Ramathuba, Department of Advanced Nursing Science, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South AfricaNdou H. Ramathuba, Department of Advanced Nursing Science, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
Abstract
Background: Conflicts arise when healthcare providers disagree about providing optimal care to critically ill patients where resources and services are constrained.
Aim: This study investigated ethical conflicts experienced by intensive care unit (ICU) healthcare professionals working in a regional hospital, Limpopo province of South Africa.
Setting: The study was conducted at a rural public regional hospital in Vhembe district, Limpopo Province. Communities served by the hospital are poor and medically uninsured.
Methods: This study adopted a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design. The target population comprised Health care professionals working in an ICU of the regional hospital. Purposive sample was selected and 17 unstructured interviews were conducted. Tesch’s method of data analysis was used. Ethical considerations were adhered to.
Results: Patients’ care needs were compromised because of the unavailability of beds and high-technology equipment, such as well-functioning ventilators. Doctors were not having the necessary skills required in the ICU as the majority were on community service/internship and nurses acted beyond their scope of practice because of a lack of adequately trained intensive care specialists. Infection control practices were overlooked and ‘use once’ pieces of equipment were reused. Conflicting values between nurses, patients and family of patients exist.
Conclusion: Lack of resources compromises provision of optimal and intensive care. Patients were prone to infections and their safety might have been compromised.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 5997Total article views: 7607
Crossref Citations
1. Investigating Clinical Ethics Consultation in Uganda: A Case Study at the Uganda Cancer Institute
Paul R Sewankambo
Asian Journal of Ethics in Health and Medicine vol: 4 issue: 1 first page: 28 year: 2024
doi: 10.51847/ULP3gIQWcE
2. Moral caring competency and moral distress among Ghanaian nurses in adult care settings: A descriptive-correlational study
Rachel Serwaah Antwi, Jefferson Galanza
Belitung Nursing Journal vol: 10 issue: 2 first page: 134 year: 2024
doi: 10.33546/bnj.3168
3. Interprofessional Competencies for Effective Interprofessional Collaborative Practices Amongst Intensive Care Unit Teams in the North West Province, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Nombulelo Esme Zenani, Suegnét Scholtz, Yolande Heymans, Christmal Christmals
Health Services Insights vol: 18 year: 2025
doi: 10.1177/11786329251391944
4. Exploration of clinical ethics consultation in Uganda: a case study of Uganda Cancer Institute
Mayi Mayega Nanyonga, Paul Kutyabami, Olivia Kituuka, Nelson K. Sewankambo
BMC Medical Ethics vol: 25 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.1186/s12910-024-01085-1
5. Ethical conflict in nursing: A concept analysis
Yuanfei Liu, Xueqing Wang, Zhaochen Wang, Yuping Zhang, Jingfen Jin
Journal of Clinical Nursing vol: 32 issue: 15-16 first page: 4408 year: 2023
doi: 10.1111/jocn.16563
6. Moral distress among neonatologists working in neonatal intensive care units in Greece: a qualitative study
Maria Deligianni, Polychronis Voultsos, Maria K. Tzitiridou-Chatzopoulou, Vasiliki Drosou-Agakidou, Vasileios Tarlatzis
BMC Pediatrics vol: 23 issue: 1 year: 2023
doi: 10.1186/s12887-023-03918-1
7. The effect of intensive care physicians and nurses' inclination to ethical values on the moral sensitivity
T. Menekli, S. Karaca Sivrikaya, B. Akay, S. Yarali Arslan, S. Sevis, A. Durmaz Akyol
Progress in Health Sciences vol: 11 issue: 2 first page: 48 year: 2021
doi: 10.5604/01.3001.0015.6398
8. The experiences of ethical conflict among critical care professionals in China: A qualitative study
Yuanfei Liu, Yuping Zhang, Jingfen Jin
Nursing in Critical Care vol: 29 issue: 5 first page: 1040 year: 2024
doi: 10.1111/nicc.13042
9. Extending the concept of moral distress to parents of infants hospitalized in the NICU: a qualitative study in Greece
Polychronis Voultsos, Maria Arabatzi, Maria Deligianni, Alexandra K. Tsaroucha
BMC Psychology vol: 12 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01793-8
10. The relationships of ethical climate, physician–nurse collaboration and psychological empowerment with critical care nurses' ethical conflict in China: A structural equation model
Yuanfei Liu, Yuping Zhang, Jingfen Jin
Journal of Nursing Management vol: 30 issue: 7 first page: 2434 year: 2022
doi: 10.1111/jonm.13848
11. Lived experiences of diabetic outpatients attending clinics in rural areas of Limpopo province in South Africa
Mabitsela H. Mphasha, Tebogo M. Mothiba, Linda Skaal
Health SA Gesondheid vol: 28 year: 2023
doi: 10.4102/hsag.v28i0.1726
12. Challenges experienced by nurses in implementing Adolescent and Youth Friendly Services in clinics of the Limpopo province
Anna M. Malahlela, Livhuwani Muthelo, Masenyani O. Mbombi, Tshepo A. Ntho, Thabo A. Phukubye, Peaceful N. Ntshayintshayi, Tendani A. Ramalata
Health SA Gesondheid vol: 29 year: 2024
doi: 10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2472
13. Conflict Sources and Management in the ICU Setting before and during COVID-19: A Scoping Review of the Literature
Katarzyna Czyż-Szypenbejl, Wioletta Mędrzycka-Dąbrowska, Anna Falcó-Pegueroles, Sandra Lange
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol: 19 issue: 3 first page: 1875 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031875
14. COVID-19 in South Africa: outbreak despite interventions
Malte Schröder, Andreas Bossert, Moritz Kersting, Sebastian Aeffner, Justin Coetzee, Marc Timme, Jan Schlüter
Scientific Reports vol: 11 issue: 1 year: 2021
doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84487-0
15. Clinical learning of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Limpopo province, South Africa
Linda Nchabeleng, Mamare A. Bopape, Ledile E. Manamela, Tshepo A. Ntho
Curationis vol: 47 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.4102/curationis.v47i1.2578
16. Non-adherence to growth monitoring and promotion sessions amongst caregivers of children under 5 years in Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo province
Mabitsela H. Mphasha, Matjie Rapetsoa, Nkhaviso Mathebula, Kamogelo Makua, Sanele Mazibuko
South African Family Practice vol: 65 issue: 1 year: 2023
doi: 10.4102/safp.v65i1.5523
17. Lived experiences of diabetic outpatients attending clinics in rural areas of Limpopo province in South Africa
Mabitsela H. Mphasha, Tebogo M. Mothiba, Linda Skaal
Health SA Gesondheid vol: 27 year: 2022
doi: 10.4102/hsag.v27i0.1726
18. Attitudes of Caregivers of Children under Five Years Regarding Growth Monitoring and Promotion in Polokwane, Limpopo Province
Mabitsela Hezekiel Mphasha, Matjie Rapetsoa, Nhaviso Mathebula, Kamogelo Makua, Sanele Mazibuko
Children vol: 10 issue: 1 first page: 56 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/children10010056