J Korean Med Sci.  2024 Mar;39(11):e102. 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e102.

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

• Park CHK
• Yoo S
• Ahmed O
• Chung S
• Lee SA

• KMID: 2554201
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e102

Abstract

Background
The Pandemic Grief Risk Factors (PGRFs) was developed as a self-report tool to compile a comprehensive list of unique risk factors related to grief when experiencing a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) loss. We explored the reliability and validity of the PGRF among healthcare workers who witnessed their patients’ deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, we examined whether the general severity of PGRF may have been associated with work-related stress and pandemic grief reactions.
Methods
An online survey was conducted among tertiary hospital healthcare workers (doctors and nursing professionals) who had witnessed the deaths of patients they cared for. Pandemic Grief Scale for healthcare workers, the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-3 items, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 responses were collected.
Results
In total, 267 responses were analyzed. The single-factor structure of the Korean version of the PGRF showed a good fit for the model. The scale demonstrated good internal consistency and convergent validity with other depression and anxiety rating scales. The mediation analysis revealed that work-related stress directly influenced pandemic grief reactions positively, and depression, anxiety, and general severity of grief risk factors partially mediated the association positively.
Conclusion
Among healthcare workers who witnessed the deaths of their patients due to COVID-19, the Korean version of the PGRF was valid and reliable for measuring the overall severity of PGRF. The PGRF can be used to identify individuals at risk for dysfunctional grief.

Keyword

COVID-19; Death; Grief; Pandemics; Depression; Anxiety

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Factor structure of the PGRF among healthcare workers who witnessed patient’s death.PGRF = Pandemic Grief Risk Factor.

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  Fig. 2 Mediation model showing the pathway from the effect of work-related stress in response to the viral epidemic (independent variables) on pandemic grief reaction (outcome) through pandemic grief risk factor, depression, and anxiety (mediator).**P < 0.01.

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