Impact of Clinical Practice and Individual Characteristics On Nursing Students' COVID-19 Phobia

ABSTRACT

Background: Coronaphobia, is an excessive anxiety or fear of becoming infected by virus, which causes behavioral disorders by ensuring the impairment of daily life of the individual. It is thought that the clinical trainings carried out during the covid period will increase the coronaphobia of the nursing students and affect the care they give to the patients. Therefore, there is a need to studies to understand students' coronaphobia level and factors affecting it. Aim: This study examines the COVID-19 phobia that nursing students experience during their clinical practice education and the factors affecting it. Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study carried out with 321 second, third and fourth-year nursing students recruited from a nursing school in Turkey. Data were collected via questionnaire. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between participant's characteristics and coronaphobia levels. Results: The students had a moderate level of coronaphobia. The state of being infected with COVID-19, death of a relative or acquaintance due to COVID-19, being afraid to be infected with COVID-19, being fearful of caregiving for COVID-19 patients, and anxiety when using common areas were associated with higher levels of phobia. Conclusion: Strategies and programs aimed at reducing nursing students' coronaphobia levels, and improving psychological support within the nursing curriculum should be implemented to help students effectively express their feelings and coping with stress.