Validation of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) Scale and Relationship With Insomnia or Depression Among Healthcare Workers Who Witnessed Patient’s Death in COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background and Objective We tested the psychometric properties of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) scale among healthcare workers who experienced patients’ deaths.Methods From June 2nd to 10th, 2022, an anonymous, online survey was administered to medical doctors and nursing professionals who witnessed the deaths of patients they cared for during the last two years. Participants demographic characteristics and responses to the SAVE-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were collected.Results A total of 267 responses were collected in this survey. The two-factor model of the SAVE-9 fits well among healthcare workers who witnessed patients’ death (CFI = 1.000, GFI = 0.996, RMSEA = 0.000, RSMR = 0.040). The SAVE-9 scale showed good reliability of internal consistency and convergent validity with the GAD-7 (r = 0.429, p = 0.001), PHQ-9 score (r = 0.414, p = 0.001), and ISI (r = 0.368, p = 0.001).Conclusions We observed that the SAVE-9 and its two subscales were valid and reliable tools for measuring work-related stress and viral anxiety among healthcare workers who witnessed the death of their patients.

Assessing Stress and Anxiety in Firefighters During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic: A Comparative Adaptation of the Stress and Anxiety in the Viral Epidemic–9 Items and Stress and Anxiety in the Viral Epidemics–6 Items Scales

“…Though the three items (items 6, 7, and 9) of the SAVE-9 can be applied to measure healthcare workers' work-related stress in response to the viral epidemic, 25 it was not more informative than the SAVE-6 and SAVE-9. 24 Thus, these results showed that we could select a specific rating scale (SAVE-6 or each worker's version of SAVE-9) depending on the purposes of the study. This study has some limitations.…”

“…Furthermore, the single-factor model of the SAVE-9 scale cannot be more informative than the SAVE-6 among this firefighters sample (Figure 2), similar to the previous study on healthcare workers. 24 According to these results, applying the SAVE-9 scale provides no more benefits than using the SAVE-6 scale. Moreover, we can apply the SAVE-6 when we need to assess the viral anxiety of workers briefly.…”

Validation of the Pandemic Grief Risk Factors and Its Relationship With Work-Related Stress and Grief Reaction Among Healthcare Workers Who Witnessed Patient Deaths

“…This is a continuation of the previous study. 18 We distributed the survey link via the hospital’s intranet to recruit doctors and nursing professionals who witnessed the deaths of patients they cared for during the last two years. They voluntarily participated in this anonymous online survey, and we rewarded their participation with a five-dollar gift coupon.…”

Validation of the Korean version of the Utrecht Grief Rumination Scale and its relationship with COVID‐related hypochondriasis among healthcare workers who witnessed patient deaths

“…This study used data obtained from a previous study conducted through anonymous online surveying of healthcare workers at a tertiary hospital from June 2 to 10, 2022 (D. Lee et al., 2022). We recruited healthcare workers (doctors and nurses) who experienced the deaths of patients over the preceding 2‐year period.…”