Posttraumatic stress disorders and influencing factors during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study of frontline nurses

Abstract

To assess the extent of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and severity, factors motivating work continuation, and factors influencing PTSD development among frontline nurses caring for patients with COVID-19. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has an emotional toll on nurses. Exposure to traumatic events associated with the pandemic places frontline nurses at risk for developing PTSD. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Frontline nurses (n = 370) who cared for COVID-19 patients in three governmental hospitals in the United Arab Emirates were recruited from November 2020 to January 2021. The self-reported Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) was used to assess PTSD. The motivational factors for work continuation explored were: work-related factors (e.g., availability of personal protective equipment and management recognition), family support, and obligation to care. We used correlation and multiple regression analyses to investigate factors that influenced PDS score, including sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age, exercising status, and general health status), work factors (e.g., hospital type [COVID vs non-COVID], prior work experience, and encountering deaths), and factors motivating work continuation. The reporting of this study was consistent with STROBE guidelines. Results: In total, 36.2% participants had a probable PTSD diagnosis (PDS score ≥28) with most reporting unwanted memories. Family support (95.9%) and management recognition (90.8%) were the most frequently reported motivating factors. Factors significantly associated with higher PDS score were smoking, lack of management recognition, not exercising, and encountering COVID-19 deaths; the correlation and regression coefficients (b) were significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions and implications for nursing/health policy: Policy makers must expand healthcare policies to address frontline nurses' mental health as a priority during the pandemic. Nurse leaders must be involved in health policy development to protect nurses in anticipation of and during global health emergencies.

A deductive thematic analysis of nurses with job‐related problems who completed suicide during the early COVID‐19 pandemic: A preliminary report

“…PTSD has been shown to be a predictor for SI, suicide attempts, and death by suicide (Cooper et al, 2020; Panagioti et al, 2017; Stanley et al, 2019). Considering the early pandemic timeframe, nurses with secondary stress syndrome were found to have a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, SI, and the nursing workplace as a source of PTSD (Ariapooran et al, 2022; Bae et al, 2022; Bani Issa et al, 2022). It seems appropriate to broaden the mental health challenges code to include SI and PTSD.…”

Work-Related Traumatic Stress Response in Nurses Employed in COVID-19 Settings

“…Other studies have used tools that were not specific to work conditions. For instance, Bani Issa et al (2021) [ 42 ] found that 36.2% of participants in a sample of 370 nurses self-reported clinically relevant trauma symptoms, as assessed by the Post-Traumatic Diagnostic Scale. Similarly, Crowe et al (2021) [ 43 ] reported that 37.6% of nurses in their sample experienced severe traumatic stress symptoms, as assessed by the Impact of Event Scale–Revised.…”

Experiences of Work-Related Stress Among Female Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: A Qualitative Study in the United Arab of Emirates

“…In fact, the findings of recent studies have indicated that HCWs, especially females, face a higher risk of excessive stress and burnout, not only due to the likelihood of work overload, but also due the imbalance between professional and personal life commonly experienced by people in the healthcare sector. 11 , 12 …”

“…In fact, the findings of recent studies have indicated that HCWs, especially females, face a higher risk of excessive stress and burnout, not only due to the likelihood of work overload, but also due the imbalance between professional and personal life commonly experienced by people in the healthcare sector. 11,12 Until May 2022, systematic searches for qualitative research focusing on work-related stress among HCWs were conducted using PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science. To facilitate literature review, three compartments of PICO framework (population, intervention, comparison, and outcome) were considered in the search strategy process.…”