"Anxiety, Depression and Insomnia Conditions in Italian Nurses during the First and the Second Waves of the Covid-19 Pandemic"

Abstract

"Background: To assess the levels of anxiety, depression and insomnia among Italian nurses directly involved in the care of patients with Covid-19, considering the first and the second wave of the pandemic. Methods: An online questionnaire was administered on some pages of the nursing social networks and addressed precisely to nurses directly involved in the care of patients affected by Covid-19 in two different periods of the pandemic: during the first wave (March2020 - May 2020) and during the second wave (October 2020 - November 2020). Results: A total of 592 nurses agreed to participate in the study: 291 nurses during the first wave and 301 during the second wave. No significant differences were recorded among the two groups based on anxiety disorder (p=.364). A significant difference between the two groups were recorded considering the depression and the insomnia condition, too (p <.001; p<.001). Additionally, no significant differences were recorded between the two waves, both for the anxiety, depression and insomnia disorders. In fact, there were only sex-related differences for each wave, but between the two waves the condition among nurses did not vary significantly. Conclusion: Further psychological support should be implemented and nurses encouraged in their care of patients suffered from Covid-19."

The Psychological Impact and Influencing Factors during Different Waves of COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers in Central Taiwan

“…Some studies had focused on a single second wave of infection [ 17 , 18 ]. A study comparing two waves of infection in India reported that HCW were less affected by psychological impacts during the second wave [ 19 ], but two Italian studies comparing psychological stress in the first and second waves reported no significant differences between the two waves [ 20 , 21 ]. These findings leave questions such as, if in different countries, with a variety in backgrounds or influencing factors, how can the negative psychological effects and severity in HCW during different waves of the pandemic differ?…”

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Registered Nurses and Nursing Students in Italy during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Nurses might develop coping strategies to complete their heavy workloads and important professional changes, such as improving technical competencies in a very short time. Additionally, lack of PPE availability, perceptions of unsafe work environments, being isolated from family members to avoid contagion, and fear of the unknown new SARS-CoV-2 infection negatively influenced nurses' mental conditions during the pandemic [19][20][21][22][23][24]43]. In line with previous studies [44][45][46], a considerable portion of the healthcare workers participating in this survey were provisionally diagnosed with PTSD.…”

“…In this regard, of several studies in the literature showing PTSD among nurses [39] during the COVID-19 pandemic [19][20][21][22][23][24], few investigated PTSD in nursing students and very few compared nurses and nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present pilot study aimed to investigate PTSD symptoms in nurses according to sex and nursing experience.…”

“…In this scenario, the literature suggested extreme exhaustion, physical discomfort from long working hours with the enforced wearing of face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), fear of contagion, and emotional distress in nurses [19][20][21][22][23]. Therefore, the highest level in nursing professional stress and exhaustion led also to other behavioral and psychiatric disorders, including insomnia, anxiety, vague malaise, asthenia, headache, diffuse pains, dyspepsia, and eating disorders [19][20][21][22][23][24]. From China [25,26] and Italy [19][20][21][22][23][24], where the pandemic was widespread during the first wave of the pandemic, it was reported that nurses at the forefront of caring for COVID-19 patients were at an increased risk of mental health disorders than other healthcare workers.…”

“…Therefore, the highest level in nursing professional stress and exhaustion led also to other behavioral and psychiatric disorders, including insomnia, anxiety, vague malaise, asthenia, headache, diffuse pains, dyspepsia, and eating disorders [19][20][21][22][23][24]. From China [25,26] and Italy [19][20][21][22][23][24], where the pandemic was widespread during the first wave of the pandemic, it was reported that nurses at the forefront of caring for COVID-19 patients were at an increased risk of mental health disorders than other healthcare workers. These early papers concerning the pandemic's impact on healthcare workers pinpointed frontline exposure to COVID-19 patients as a main risk factor but identified few other variables explaining the reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, psychological distress, and posttraumatic stress among nurses [27,28].…”