J Korean Acad Nurs Adm.  2022 Dec;28(5):499-510. 10.11111/jkana.2022.28.5.499.

Factors Influencing Post-traumatic Growth of Nurses at Nationally Designated Infectious Disease Hospital

• Oh JE
• Park JY

• KMID: 2538915
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2022.28.5.499

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify the factors that affect post-traumatic growth among frontline nurses during a COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
This study included 187 nurses working in nationally designated infectious disease hospitals as participants. Data were collected from January 11 to March 2, 2021 using structured questionnaires. Independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to examine influencing factors of post-traumatic growth.
Results
Posst-traumatic growth was positively correlated with traumatic event experience (r=.26, p<.001), post-traumatic stress (r=.32, p<.001), supervisor support (r=.39, p<.001), and colleague support (r=.36, p<.001). Factors affecting post-traumatic growth were emotional support of supervisors (β=.76, p<.001) and evaluative support of colleagues (β=.46, p<.018). Overall, approximately 40.0% of the variability in post-traumatic growth was explained by these two variables.
Conclusion
To increase emotional support of supervisors and evaluative support of colleagues, the most influential factors for post-traumatic growth of frontline nurses who fought against COVID-19, a positive culture must be established. This includes horizontal communication, a safe working environment, and securing of appropriate nurse to patient ratio.

Keyword

COVID-19; Post-traumatic growth; Stress; Nurses; Nursing