Moral distress has been identified as an experience of healthcare providers who feel constrained from doing what they believe to be right. Its spiritual and emotional effects have been shown to be both immediate and long lasting. Resident physicians are by no means immune to this problem and do, in fact, experience it in unique ways. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence and effects of moral distress among family medicine residents at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital and formulate an appropriate pastoral response. Inspired by the biblical imperative to grow up into Christ, the project is grounded in the theological ethics of H. Richard Niebuhr and the moral development theories of Carol Gilligan and James Fowler. Four one-hour teaching interventions were conducted with the residents. The classes focused on introducing the topic of moral distress, inviting the residents to reflect on their own experiences, inviting them to explore their sense of vocation, equipping them with specific skills, and encouraging them to begin to formulate strategies for coping with or overcoming moral distress in clinical practice. A questionnaire was distributed at the conclusion of the fourth class in order to assess the efficacy of these interventions.
