J Yeungnam Med Sci.  2022 Jul;39(3):216-222. 10.12701/yujm.2021.01361.

A comparative study of the psychological impacts of tasks related and unrelated to COVID-19 on nurses: a cross-sectional study

• Kim HJ
• Lee GH

• KMID: 2532074
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2021.01361

Abstract

Background
This study assessed the psychological impact of the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on university hospital nurses. It provides an assessment of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, distress, and burnout of nurses dealing directly and indirectly with COVID-19.
Methods
In a web-based, cross-sectional study, 111 nurses from Daegu Catholic University Hospital in Korea were enrolled from August 4 to August 9, 2020. Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and Maslach Burnout Inventory were used to assess the psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and burnout among the study participants.
Results
Of 111 nurses, 35 (31.5%), nine (8.1%), 26 (23.4%), and 49 (44.1%) experienced depression, anxiety, distress, and burnout, respectively. Nurses who performed COVID-19–related tasks were more likely to have moderate depression (related vs. unrelated, 52.0% vs. 25.6%; p=0.037). There were no differences in anxiety, distress, and burnout between nurses with and without COVID-19–related tasks. More than 50% of the participants showed receptive and positive attitudes toward caring for COVID-19 patients.
Conclusion
Nurses who performed COVID-19–related tasks had a higher risk of depression. There were no significant differences in anxiety, distress, and burnout between the two groups. Since nurses who perform COVID-19–related tasks are more prone to psychological distress, continued psychiatric interventions are required for infectious disease outbreaks with a high mortality rate for healthcare workers who are emotionally vulnerable.

Keyword

Anxiety; Burnout; COVID-19; Depression; Distress

Reference

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