Mwenya, Morine N.2026-03-262026-03-262025-10https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/32853A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science in Oncology Nursing in the School of Nursing, Department of Community and Reproductive Health of Kenyatta University, October, 2025The increasing popularity of moral distress among the HCPs deployed in Oncology departments in our hospitals is becoming a problem of phenomenal proportions not only among the health care circles but the entire health services consumers in the country and a lot need to be done to stem this development. Indeed Moral distress among healthcare providers has generated a lot of debate in Kenya. Yet minimal studies have been undertaken to study, examine and document the prevalence, interrelationships, effects and what needs to be done. This study therefore discusses the prevalence, causes and interrelationships of the causal factors and the coping mechanisms of the HCPs to moral distress in oncology departments. A cross sectional study was conducted, using a proportionate stratified sampling method to take in the study sample representative and information was composed using a structured self- administered questionnaire comprising of three sections a socio-demographic section, Moral Distress Scale-Revised and a coping strategy items as the section C of the questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was done where frequencies and percentages were used to sum up grouped data while mean and standard deviation was used to summarize continuous data. Chi-square and Fischer s exact test were used to investigate the factors associated with moral distress. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate the determinants of moral distress. Level of significance was investigated at 0.05. Statistical package for social sciences was used for analysis. The findings showed that, 56.6%(n =82) of the respondents were male. In investigating age group of study participants, 40.7%(n =59) were aged between 41 and 50 years. Marital status showed that 59.3%(n =86) of the participants were married. In investigating moral distress, that 37.9% (n =55) had no moral distress, 49%(n =71) had mild moral distress while 13.1%(n =19) had severe moral distress. The findings showed that participants with degree, (AOR =0.33, 95%CI:0.14 0.85, p =0.001), higher diploma, (AOR =0.22, 95%CI:0.10 0.49, p <001) and those with master s level education, (AOR =0.16, 95%CI:0.04 0.51, p =0.010) were less likely to experience moral distress as likened to those with diploma level qualification. Those who had ≤2 years duration of experience (AOR =2.50, 95%CI:1.91 – 6.41, p =0.005). Those who were neutral on assertion that patients’ relatives have unrealistic expectations about them (OR =0.24, 95%CI:0.09 – 0.76, p =0.015), Those who agreed with the statement that patients’ relatives have unrealistic expectations about (AOR =3.88, 95%CI:1.05 – 14.35, p =0.042 and those who disagreed with the statement that there is autonomy in decision making (AOR =4.15, 95%CI: 1.16 14.81, p =0.028) were determinants of moral distress. The findings have showed that the burden of moral distress is high which warrants the need for healthcare providers to shape focus on their wellbeing. There is need to foster a culture of open communication where healthcare providers feel comfortable discussing moral distress and ethical challenges with colleagues, supervisors, and mentors.enThesis