Assessing COVID-19 related anxiety among nurses in Malawi

Abstract

Introduction: Psychological wellbeing of nurses is crucial for them to effectively discharge their duties. However, COVID-19 related anxiety can interfere with nurses’ performance in their duties and reduce their self-efficacy levels.Aim: This study aimed at assessing COVID-19 related anxiety among nurses in Malawi.Method: This was a cross-sectional study that collected data from 102 nurses online. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and receiver operating curve analysis.Results: This study found that 25.5% (n=26) of respondents had COVID-19 related anxiety and 48% (n=49) functional impairment. There were significant differences in the numbers of respondents who had functional impairment in relation to workplace (χ2=8.7, p= 0.03) with many of those working in hospitals (58.6%, n=34) having highest levels (Mean =20.6±10.4). The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale proved to be an effective instrument (Sensitivity=73.1%; Specificity=60.5%; AUC=0.73) for assessing COVID-19 related anxiety among nurses.Discussion: Prevalence of COVID-19 related anxiety is high among nurses and many of them experience functional impairment. The CAS should be used in clinical practice for detecting COVID-19 related anxiety among nurses.Implications for practiceNurses should be screened of COVID-19 related anxiety using valid instrument. Psychosocial interventions should be part of preparedness to reduce COVID-19 impact on nurses.

Prevalence and predictors of coronaphobia among frontline hospital and public health nurses

“…Further, increased social support and higher personal resilience among hospital nurses may have contributed to lower levels of coronavirus anxiety when compared to public health nurses. Overall, the percentage of nurses reporting coronaphobia in the current study was higher when compared to previous studies where dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19 ranged from 3.3% to 46.3% (Chorwe-Sungani 2020; Saricam, 2020; Labrague & De los Santos, 2020a).…”

“…Mounting evidence has shown that approximately 22% to 37% of HCWs suffered from abnormal levels of anxiety due to the virus (Gupta et al ., 2020; Pappa et al . 2020), and among this group of HWCs, nurses reported the highest incidence, which ranged from 25.5% to 92% (Chorwe-Sungani 2020; Saricam, 2020; Labrague & De los Santos, 2020a). Female nurses (Bitan et al ., 2020; Pappa et al ., 2020), and those who were assigned in COVID-19 designated institutions, were twice as anxious as those nurses who worked in non-coronavirus specific hospitals (Mora-Magana et al ., 2020; Pouralizadeh et al ., 2020).…”

“…Given the vital roles frontline hospital and public health nurses play during this pandemic, it is imperative to assess their mental well-being, particularly for the presence of dysfunctional anxiety or coronaphobia, a condition which could adversely affect their work performance, job satisfaction, and overall health and which could possibly drive them to leave their jobs (Labrague & De los Santos, 2020; Stelnicki et al ., 2020; Leng et al ., 2020). However, to date, most of the studies focused on mental health outcomes of pandemic in frontline hospital nurses (Chorwe-Sungani 2020; Saricam, 2020), while studies assessing mental and psychological consequences of the pandemic on public health nurses has largely been ignored. Therefore, this study was undertaken to compare the prevalence rate as well as predictors of dysfunctional anxiety between frontline hospital and public health nurses.…”

Prevalence of stress, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…All studies were conducted between January 2020 and September 2020: eight in January, 36 in February, 13 in March, 13 in April, six in May, two in June, two in July and one in September. Twenty preprint studies [ [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] ] were included in the analyses. All studies included in this meta-analysis were of cross sectional design.…”

“…The overall pooled point estimates of prevalence for anxiety varied between 8% and 91%, which was reported by 73 studies [ [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [28] , [29] , [30] , 32 , 34 , 35 , [37] , [38] , [39] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , 48 , 49 , 51 , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , 62 , [64] , [65] , [66] , [67] , [71] , [72] , [73] , [74] , [75] , [76] , [77] , [78] , [79] , [80] , [81] , [82] , [83] , [84] , [85] , [86] , [87] , [88] , [89] , [90] , [91] , [92] , [93] , [94] , [95] , [96] , [97] , [98] , [99] ,…”