ABSTRACT
The current study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of somatization, depression, and anxiety among 374 frontline nurses in less severely affected areas during the initial period of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. The prevalence of somatization, depression, and anxiety among frontline nurses was 41.4%, 40.1%, and 37.4%, respectively. Nurses from provincial-level hospitals were less likely to report somatization (odds ratio [OR] = 0.50; p = 0.018), depression (OR = 0.52; p = 0.024), and anxiety (OR = 0.35; p < 0.001) than those from county-level hospitals. Longer service duration was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of reporting somatization (OR = 1.06; p = 0.008) and depression (OR = 1.06; p = 0.006). Psychological distress exists in frontline nurses in less severely affected areas, and hospital levels and service duration are independent risk factors for psychological stress in these nurses. Maintaining nurses' mental health is an important issue in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to sufficient distribution of medical resources between hospitals at different levels. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x), xx-xx.].
ABSTRACT
Objective The psychological problems of frontline nurses in COVID-19 prevention and control are very prominent, and targeted intervention is needed to alleviate them. This study was to assess the impact of online intervention programs on psychological crisis of anxiety, depression levels and physical symptoms among frontline nurses fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A three-stage online psychological crisis intervention program was established. The General Anxiety 7 (GAD-7) assessment, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Self-rating Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS) were used to evaluate the effect of intervention on the day before entering isolation wards (Time 1), the first day after leaving the isolation ward (Time 2), and at the end of the intervention (Time 3). Results Sixty-two nurses completed the study, including 59 female (95.2%) and three male nurses (4.8%) with an age range of 23–49 (mean 33.37 ± 6.01). A significant (P < 0.01) difference existed in the scores of GAD-7, PHQ-9, and SSS at different intervention periods. The GAD-7 score was significantly (P < 0.001) lower at the end of quarantine period (time 3) than that before entering the isolation wards (time 1) or after leaving the isolation wards (time 2), the PHQ-9 score was significantly (P = 0.016) lower at the end of quarantine period (time 3) than that after leaving the isolation wards (time 2), and the SSS score was significantly (P < 0.001) lower at the end of quarantine period (time 3) than that before entering the isolation wards (time 1) or after leaving the isolation wards (time 2). Conclusion The three-stage online intervention program based on the psychological crisis can be effective in reducing negative emotions and somatic symptoms and improving the mental health of frontline nurses in prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic. It may provide an empirical basis for psychological crisis intervention of frontline medical staff when facing public health emergencies.