J Korean Biol Nurs Sci.  2022 Feb;24(1):67-76. 10.7586/jkbns.2022.24.1.67.

Role Stress, Trauma and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder of COVID-19 Response Task Force in Public Health Centers

• Choi JJ
• Chae YR

• KMID: 2526753
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7586/jkbns.2022.24.1.67

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to find stress mediation strategies for pandemic task forces in the future by identifying role stress experienced by local officials in public health centers working as COVID-19 response task force. Whether they suffered from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to COVID-19 was also determined.
Methods
Subjects for this research were 185 public health center workers in 7 northern Gyeonggi cities with at least three months of COVID-19 response task force experience. The investigation lasted for two months, from February to March of 2021. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.
Results
The average role stress of research subjects was 2.79 ± 0.60. There were 64 subjects (34.6%) who answered ‘yes’ for trauma experience due to COVID-19. Subjects’ role stress by sociodemographic and role characteristics displayed statistically significant differences in gender (t = -2.74, p = .007), age (F = 6.41, p = .002), profession (F = 0.01, p = .014), and COVID-19 response task (F = 3.01, p = .019). Specifically, role stress was higher for females than for males, those who were in their 20’s (than 40’s), a nursing profession (rather than others). Role stress was also higher in COVID-19 confirmed response work or in a self-quarantine work. There was a significant difference in trauma according to COVID-19 response roles (χ² = 26.59, p = < .001) and other tasks given or not (χ² = 9.48, p = .002).
Conclusion
It is necessary to take measures to reduce COVID-19 response task force’s role stress and trauma.

Keyword

COVID-19 Response task force; Occupational stress; Psychological trauma; Post-traumatic Stress disorders