Examining Moral Injury Awareness in a Clinical Setting

Moral injury is a relatively novel clinical construct recognized as a focus of concern in some military veteran populations. This short communication presents findings from a descriptive survey examining awareness of moral injury in a clinical setting specialized in veteran health services and treatment. An online survey was distributed to personnel (n = 900) at a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This survey yielded n = 106 (11.8%) responses. Self- perceived awareness was about evenly divided between developed and underdeveloped. Respondents saw moral injury as being chiefly the domain of mental hygiene service providers, followed by chaplains, medical, and nursing staff. Respondents overwhelmingly saw moral injury as relevant to the health of veterans, yet felt that not enough is being done to address this issue. The findings highlight a critical need for continued efforts at increasing awareness of moral injury in clinical settings as well as developing support options.