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There is growing concern about moral distress and injury associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare professions. This study aimed to quantify the nature, frequency, severity and duration of the problem in the public health professional workforce.

Between 14 December 2021 and 23 February 2022, Faculty of Public Health (FPH) members were surveyed about their experiences of moral distress before and during the pandemic.

In total, 629 FPH members responded, of which, 405 (64%; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 61–68%) reported one or more experience of moral distress associated with their own action (or inaction), and 163 (26%; 95%CI = 23–29%) reported experiencing moral distress associated with a colleague’s or organization’s action (or inaction) since the start of the pandemic. The majority reported …