J Korean Clin Nurs Res.  2021 Aug;27(2):121-129. 10.22650/JKCNR.2021.27.2.121.

Factors Affecting Post-Traumatic Stress of Nurses in Direct Care for COVID-19 Patients

• Kim ON
• Choi SY

• KMID: 2519623
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2021.27.2.121

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate post-traumatic stress, job stress, fatigue, and social support of nurses in direct care for COVID-19 patients and to identify the factors affecting post-traumatic stress among the nurses.
Methods
The participants were 150 nurses from three hospitals. Data were collected from September 11, 2020 to September 21, 2020. The data were analyzed with SPSS/WIN/25.0 program.
Results
The mean score of post-traumatic stress was 22.27±15.49 (range 0~88). The percentage of high risk group of post-traumatic stress was 35.3%, risk group was 20.0%, normal group was 44.7%. Post-traumatic stress showed statistically significant differences according to quarantined experience (t=2.15, p=.033), and provision of COVID-19 manual (t=-2.40, p=.026). Post-traumatic stress was positively correlated with job stress (r=.48, p<.001), and fatigue (r=.58, p<.001), and it was negatively correlated with social support (r=-.22, p=.005). Job stress was positively correlated with fatigue (r=.74, p<.001), and it was negatively correlated with social support (r=-.17, p=.030). Fatigue and social support (r=-.17, p=.029) had a negative correlation. The results of regression analysis showed that the factors affecting post-traumatic stress included fatigue (β=.56, p<.001), provision of COVID-19 manual (β=-.24, p<.001), and quarantined experience (β =.18, p=.016) and that the total explanatory power was 42.0%.
Conclusion
In this study, fatigue, provision of COVID-19 manual, and quarantined experience were found as influential factors of post-traumatic stress among nurses in direct care for COVID-19 patients. Therefore, development of the intervention for reducing the fatigue should consider to prevent post-traumatic stress in nurses. Also, provision of COVID-19 manual for nurses and psychological intervention program for nurses experienced quarantine are necessary.

Keyword

COVID-19; Stress Disorder; Post-traumatic; Nurses; Fatigue