Latent profiles of moral sensitivity and its associated factors among operating room nurses

Abstract

Objective To identify latent profiles of moral sensitivity among operating room nurses and to examine factors influencing these profiles. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2025. A total of 579 operating room nurses from 18 tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu Province, China, were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Chinese version of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire-Revised Version (MSQ-R-CV), the Nurse Work Environment Perception Questionnaire, and the Role Clarity Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed using Mplus 8.0. Binary logistic regression was conducted using SPSS 26.0 to identify independently associated factors of latent profile membership. Results Two distinct latent profiles were identified: a low moral sensitivity group (42.8%) and a high moral sensitivity group (57.2%). Binary logistic regression revealed that gender (male vs. female: OR = 44.27, 95% CI: 5.34–366.93, P < 0.001), age (≥45 years vs. < 25 years: OR = 9.33, 95% CI: 3.87–22.51, P < 0.001), years of experience (5–10 years vs. 1–5 years: OR = 22.64, 95% CI: 10.53–48.70, P < 0.001), and role clarity (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03–1.14, P < 0.001) were significant independently associated factors of high moral sensitivity. Conclusion The identification of a substantial low-sensitivity subgroup underscores the urgent need for targeted ethics training, particularly for younger and less experienced female nurses. Future targeted interventions focusing on role clarification, particularly for younger, less experienced, and female nurses, may effectively enhance moral sensitivity in this population.