Moral Injury in Healthcare: Adapting the Building Spiritual Strength (BSS) Intervention to Health and Strength (HAS) for Civilian and Military Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased moral distress and injury (MD&I) among healthcare workers (HCWs) and has highlighted a need for intervention. Most MD&I interventions have been with service members and veterans; only five have been empirically tested. Further, with the Defense Health Agency calling for civilian HCWs to provide care for military members, it is necessary to adapt an MD&I intervention that has been shown successful. Recent Findings: Building Spiritual Strength (BSS), one of the five evidence-based MD&I interventions, was adapted for HCWs and renamed Health and Strength (HAS). The changes of the BSS to HAS are described. Summary: HCWs are struggling with MD&I, and an intervention is needed. An already successful MD&I intervention for veterans, BSS is adapted for HCWs.