ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to analyze any relations existed between sampling characteristics and the onset of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, also by considering the number of times that it occurred in a cohort of Italian nurses interviewed. Additionally, by considering the nutritional supplemental taking, this research wanted to assess any differences both in the onset and in the number of times in which the infection occurred among participants. An observational cohort study was carried out thorough all Italian nurses by advertising the questionnaire through some professional Internet pages. Work typology (P=0.021), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ward (P=0.002) and regular meal assumption (P=0.019) significantly associated to the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most of nurses who contracted the SARS-CoV-2 infection worked during the night shift (53.7%), 44.3% worked in a no-COVID-19 ward and 53% declared to have a regular meals' assumption. Ward typology significantly associated to the times of the SARSCoV-2 onset (P=0.003), as most of nurses who contracted almost one time the SARS-CoV-2 infection were employed in a no-COVID-19 ward (55.5%) and 54.1% of them declared to have a regular meals' assumption. The onset of the SARS-CoV-2 infection seemed to be more present in the most part of the sample collects. The present study could be considered as pilot in this sense and also more studies will be performed in order to better relate the function of supplemental food intakes with a better functioning of the immune system.Copyright © the Author(s), 2022 Licensee PAGEPress, Italy.
ABSTRACT
SUMMARY: Background and Aim. Starting from March 9, 2020, the Italian government has proclaimed a state of health emergency due to the epidemic, which later became a SARSCoV- 2 infection pandemic. The present study aimed to perform differences and any potential risk factors in anxious and depressive symptoms in Italian nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic according to selected sociodemographic variables. Methods. In November 2020 an "ad hoc" questionnaire was administered online to all Italian nurses. In the first part, a whole series of socio-demographic variables relating to the reference sample were collected, as: gender, the department to which participants belonged, if the respondent suffered from pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases, if the nurse lived alone or with other cohabitants and whether during the pandemic the participant contracted the SARS-CoV-2 infection or not. In the second part of the questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was administered to quickly and easily assess the anxiety and depression levels among the Italian nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Results . 732 nurses agreed to participate to this survey. Among participants, 479 (65.3%) recorded an anxious symptomatology and 267 (6.4%) a depressive one. According to anxious symptoms, a significant difference was recorded between females and males (p min 0.001), as females recorded higher mild (24.04%), moderate (23.09%) and severe (13.39%) anxious symptom levels than males (Mild:1.50%;Moderate: 2.46%;Severe: 0.96%). By considering depressive symptoms according to socio demographic variables, only nurses without cardiovascular diseases recorded higher frequencies in mild (21.58%), moderate (8.47%) and severe (2.46%) depressive symptoms than nurses who suffered from a cardiovascular disease (Mild:2.05%;Moderate: 1.64%;Severe: 0.27%). Potential risk factors identified for anxious symptoms were: gender, both for mild (p min 0.001), moderate (p=.008) and severe (p=.003) anxious symptoms, and pulmonary diseases for severe anxious disorders (p=.014). Potential risk factors identified for the onset of depressive symptoms were: gender (p=.026), pulmonary diseases (p=.021), domestic partnership (p=.035), for mild symptoms;the presence of cardiac diseases (p=.006) for moderate symptoms. Conclusions . It urged to begin to further implement all forms of psychological support for nurses and further implementation of university nursing training programs that aim at both the technical and psychological management of the future professional to cope with maxi emergencies.
ABSTRACT
Objectives To perform if the knowledge on the COVID-19 pandemic and the nursing role could influence anxiety and depression levels in nursing and general population participants. Methods A descriptive correlational study was conducted. Participants were divided into nursing and general population groups, respectively. General knowledge on the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed and then, thanks to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), anxiety and depression levels were also performed. Results 400 subjects were enrolled in this study. Nurses and general population recorded the similar trend in anxiety levels (p =.265). Nurses recorded higher frequency in normal depressive score than general population (p =.006). Significant correlations were reported between: anxiety and depression levels (p <.001), anxiety levels and the pandemic knowledge (p =.024), anxiety levels and the nursing role (p =.005), depression levels and the nursing role (p <.001). Conclusions The pandemic knowledge and the nursing role might be protective factors both in anxiety and depressive disorders.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Women tend to report greater symptoms of anxiety and depression during outbreaks than men, especially in the pregnancy condition. The present study aimed to compare the level of anxiety and depression in postpartum women who gave birth before and during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Women were divided into two groups: The case group, which included Italian women who delivered during the pandemic period (from December 2019) and the control group, which included Italian women who delivered before the pandemic period (until November 2019). An ad-hoc questionnaire was created and administered online. Depressive disorder was evaluated with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and anxiety disorders were assessed with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder, version 7. The values obtained were then differentiated based on socio-demographic variables and the characteristics of childbirth and breastfeeding between the two groups and univariate regression analysis were performed to assess which factors influenced anxiety and depression disorders among the two groups considered. RESULTS: Atotal of 266 women participated in the study. Of these, 110 belonged to the control group and 156 women belonged to the case group. No statistically significant differences were recorded between the two groups as considering socio-demographic characteristics and characteristics of delivery. GAD values statistically differed considering the age groups (P0.001), the level of education (P=0.024), the type of birth (P=0.021). All factors related to the EPDTscores were not significantly influencing both in the case group and in the control group, except in the control group as the type of breastfeeding (P=0.037). Significantly influencing factors in the evaluation of generalized anxiety disorder were the age (P=0.045) and the number of weeks of gestation in the control group (P=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Further investigations are desirable to understand which factors most influence the depressive and anxious state of women to better address all the numerous psychological support initiatives that may be the most appropriate, timely and effective, even in emergency situations.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the burnout syndrome among nurses who are engaged in the care of patients with Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A cohort observational-survey study was carried among Italian nurses who work in the Italian Intensive Care Unit (ICU) during the pandemic COVID-19 period. METHODS: The questionnaire was published online on Google form, modules section, from March 25, 2020 to April 26, 2020. The questionnaire contained a first part of demographic data, as: gender, years of experience, if the nurse interviewed at the time of the pandemic COVID-19 event was already working in an ICU or if, due to the urgency of the context, he/she was transferred to an ICU that was set up during this period. Then, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) questionnaire was administered to evaluate the burnout level among nurses who are in direct contact with critically ill patients with COVID-19. RESULTS : 291 nurses answered the survey. With the MBI threshold values in mind, it can be seen that the clinical condition of burnout can be configured for all three dimensions, both for women and men. As regards the dimension of emotional exhaustion, female nurses are more exposed to the phenomenon than men (P<0.001). However, for the other two dimensions there are no statistically different differences between the two sexes (depersonalization: P=0.809;personal accomplishment: P=0.268). CONCLUSIONS : Burnout levels are high among nurses. Surely the situation since COVID-19 has accentuated the result, regardless of the years of experience or if the nurses have always worked in opposed intensive care units have been transferred due to the health emergency. Also interesting is the aspect of the trend of burnout levels between female nurses who are they are more affected by emotional exhaustion than male nurses.