Acute stress disorder, coping self‐efficacy and subsequent psychological distress among nurses amid COVID‐19

Abstract

Health care professionals, particularly nurses, are considered a vulnerable group to experience acute stress disorder (ASD) and subsequent psychological distress amid COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to establish the prevalence of acute stress disorder and predictors of psychological distress among Jordanian nurses. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and comparative design was used. Data were collected using a Web-based survey. A total of 448 Jordanian nurses (73% females) completed and returned the study questionnaire. Results: The majority of nurses (64%) are experiencing ASD due to the COVID-19 pandemic and thus are at risk for PTSD predisposition. More than one-third of nurses (41%) are also suffering significant psychological distress. Among our sample, age, ASD and coping self-efficacy significantly predicted psychological distress. More specifically, younger nurses are more prone to experience psychological distress than older ones. While higher scores on ASD showed more resultant psychological distress, coping self-efficacy was a protective factor. Conclusion: Given that individuals who suffer from ASD are predisposed to PTSD, follow-up with nurses to screen for PTSD and referral to appropriate psychological services is pivotal. Coping self-efficacy is found to ameliorate the effect of psychological distress on nurses' traumatic experience. Such findings warrant intensive efforts from health care institutions to provide psychosocial support services for nurses and ongoing efforts to screen them for traumatic and psychological distress symptoms. Implications for Nursing Management: Nursing leaders and managers are in the forefront of responding to the unique needs of their workforces during the COVID-19 crisis. They need to implement stress-reduction strategies for nurses through providing consecutive rest days, rotating allocations of complex patients, arranging support services and being accessible to staff. They also need to ensure nurses' personal safety through securing and providing personal safety measures and undertake briefings to ensure their staff's physical and mental well-being, as well as providing referrals to appropriate psychological services. | 1687 SHAHROUR And dARdAS 1 | INTRODUC TI ON Viral diseases have been a serious issue to global health emerging in public awareness. By the end of 2019, the world had witnessed the unpleasant and anxiety-provoking news regarding the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on a global scale. The rapidness and aggressiveness of COVID-19 in infecting people made it a serious and threatening global health issue. As of 21 June 2020, more than 8 million people were infected, resulting in thousands of deaths worldwide (European Center for Disease Prevention & Control [ECDC], 2020). Researchers are warning that the COVID-19 pandemic could inflict emotional trauma on a global scale (e.g. Higgins, 2020; Xiang, 2020). Individuals are fearful of contracting the infection or spreading it to their loved ones and having their basic and financ...

Factors Associated With Psychological Distress in Health-Care Workers During an Infectious Disease Outbreak: A Rapid Systematic Review of the Evidence

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“Goodbye … Through a Glass Door”: Emotional Experiences of Working in COVID-19 Acute Care Hospital Environments

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Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder after infectious disease pandemics in the twenty-first century, including COVID-19: a meta-analysis and systematic review

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