Evaluating the Stress Factors of Dermatology Nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Nursing is among the top three most stressful jobs, yet stress in nurses has diminishing impacts on their personal health and productivity. The COVID-19 pandemic might elevate stress in nurses, in particular dermatology nurses. This study aims to examine the prevalence of stress among dermatology nurses and its related factors. Methodology: A cross-section study was conducted among 154 nurses at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology in Vietnam. Data were collected during the third cluster of COVID-19 pandemic spread in Hanoi. Nurse stress was measured by stress items of the DASS-21. Factors related to stress included personal, family, work-related and social factors. Results: 51.9% of nurses met the criteria for stress according to DASS-21. All nurses reported at least 1 symptom of stress in the past week. Factors significantly related to stress among nurses included personal, family, work-related and social factors. While many factors in these four groups created stress in nurses, only work-related and social factors elevated the severity of stress in nurses. Conclusion: Hospital management should develop strategies to support nurses deal with stress, since most of the factors that elevate stress can be addressed by system-level interventions, such as management of professional relationships, organizational justice, and the welfare system.