Anxiety, sleep disorders and self-efficacy among nurses during COVID-19 pandemic: A large cross-sectional study

The efficacy of mindfulness-based programs in reducing anxiety among nurses in hospital settings: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The increasing pressure of their professional duties has led to a notable concern regarding the mounting anxiety levels among nurses. The ongoing discussion revolves around the efficacy of mindfulness as a means to alleviate anxiety in nurses.

AIM

This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of mindfulness in reducing anxiety among nurses.

METHODS

The evaluation followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. An extensive and comprehensive search was conducted across eight databases to identify studies that utilized randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and were published in English between 2011 and 2022. Independently, two reviewers assessed the validity of the randomized controlled trials using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials criteria. Additionally, two authors independently employed the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-2) method to evaluate the potential bias in the RCTs.

RESULTS

Eight randomized controlled trial studies that were deemed eligible were included in the current analysis. Based on the literature review, it was determined that mindfulness-based training can assist nurses in reducing their anxiety levels. Furthermore, the effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs in enhancing nurses' mindfulness and self-compassion has been firmly established.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

Based on existing literature, mindfulness-based interventions have proven to be effective in reducing anxiety levels among nurses. However, in order to enhance the overall quality of research, it is necessary to implement more rigorous controlled designs that include randomization. Additionally, larger sample sizes with a diverse range of participants are needed to establish and validate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs in alleviating anxiety among nurses. Implementing mindfulness-based training in healthcare organizations can offer numerous benefits. One such advantage is that it can help nurses in reducing anxiety and enhancing their ability to handle the pressures associated with their profession.

STUDY REGISTRATION

PROSPERO Protocol registration ID: CRD42023475157.

The Effect of Self-Acupressure on Sleep Quality and Fatigue in Nurses: A Sham-Controlled Study

This study was conducted to determine the effects of self-acupressure on sleep quality and fatigue in nurses working in medical clinics. A total of 64 nurses (n = 32 acupressure, n = 32 sham acupressure) participated in this prospective, 2-arm (1:1) study with an experimental design. In the study, both groups used the pressure points they were taught while performing self-acupressure 3 times per week for 4 weeks. After the intervention, the total mean score average of the acupressure group on the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index and Fatigue Severity Scale was significantly lower than that of the sham acupressure group (P < .05). Self-acupressure is a noninvasive, easy-to-use, safe, and efficient complementary and integrated technique that nurses can use to improve their sleep quality and manage fatigue.

Prevalence and factors associated with poor sleep quality among nurses in COVID-19 wards

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the working conditions of nurses, leading to a detrimental effect on their sleep quality. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of poor sleep quality and its associated factors among nurses working in COVID-19 wards in Kermanshah, Iran. A total of 97 nurses were selected through simple random sampling from COVID-19 wards. Data was collected using a demographic information sheet and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including chi-square and multiple logistic regression, were used for data analysis. The results showed that 74.2% (n = 72) of the nurses experienced poor sleep quality. Significant associations were found between poor sleep quality and work experience (p = 0.045) as well as the type of work shift (p = 0.001). However, no significant relationships were observed between poor sleep quality and factors such as age, sex, body mass index, overtime hours per month, physical activity, or underlying diseases. The high prevalence of poor sleep quality among nurses working in COVID-19 wards underscores the necessity of implementing targeted interventions to address this issue. In this regard, in addition to periodic shift schedule changes and reductions in working hours, it is necessary to adopt purposeful measures to improve working conditions and enhance the physical and mental health of nurses. These measures may include providing sufficient human resources to reduce the workload and fatigue of nurses, appropriate scheduling of working hours, and the implementation of stress management programs.

Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of nurses in the Spanish out-of-hospital Emergency Service

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of nurses in Spanish out-of-hospital Emergency Services, identifying predictor factors of greater severity.

METHOD

A multicentre cross-sectional descriptive study was designed, including all nurses working in any Spanish out-of-hospital Emergency Services between 01/02/2021 and 30/04/2021. The main outcomes were the level of depression, anxiety and stress assessed through the DASS-21 scale. Sociodemographic, clinical, and occupational information was also collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine possible associations between variables.

RESULTS

The sample included 474 nurses. 32.91%, 32.70% and 26.33% of the participants had severe or extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress, respectively. Professionals with fewer competencies to handle stressful situations, those who had used psychotropic drugs and/or psychotherapy on some occasion before the pandemic onset, or those who had changed their working conditions presented more likelihood of developing more severe levels of depression, anxiety and/or stress.

CONCLUSION

Nurses in Spanish out-of-hospital Emergency Services have presented medium levels of depression, anxiety and stress during the pandemic. Clinical and occupational factors have been associated with a higher degree of psychological distress. It is necessary to adopt strategies that promote professionals' self-efficacy and mitigate the triggers of negative emotional states.

Clustering of methamphetamine users based on personality characteristics and self-efficacy in the west of Iran

With the substantial increase in the use of stimulants, especially methamphetamine, in recent years, the present study aimed to cluster methamphetamine users based on personality traits and self-efficacy, and compare their mental health, sleep quality, and the risk of relapse in the identified clusters. This cross-sectional study was conducted through convenience sampling on 501 methamphetamine users in addiction treatment centers in Kermanshah, western Iran. The data were collected using the Schwarzer General Self-Efficacy Scale, Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire, Goldberg and Hiller General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire, and Stimulant Relapse Risk Scale (SRRS). A total of 501 methamphetamine users were distinguished into three clusters with frequencies of 111 (22.2%), 298 (59.5%), and 92 (18.4%) members through hierarchical cluster analysis. The participants in the first cluster were characterized by low self-efficacy, high neuroticism, sensation seeking, and aggressiveness, along with low extroversion and activity, low positive health, high negative health, low sleep quality, and high risk of drug relapse. The participants in the second cluster reported moderate levels of self-efficacy, neuroticism, sensation seeking, activity, and aggressiveness, high extroversion, and moderate levels of mental health, sleep quality, and the risk of relapse. Moreover, the participants in the third cluster reported the highest level of self-efficacy, the lowest level of neuroticism, sensation seeking, and aggressiveness, moderate extroversion and high activity, low relapse risk, high sleep quality, as well as high positive and low negative health symptoms. The third cluster was significantly different from the other two clusters in terms of the mentioned factors. The findings of this study suggest that low self-efficacy and the presence of neuroticism, sensation seeking, and high aggressiveness contribute to reduced mental health and sleep quality, as well as an increased risk of relapse in methamphetamine users.

Job satisfaction, professional competence, and self-efficacy: a multicenter cross-sectional study among registered nurses in Sweden and Norway

BACKGROUND

Healthcare organizations worldwide face persistent challenges relating to turnover and intention to leave the nursing profession among registered nurses. Factors contributing to their retention and well-being at work include high job satisfaction, professional competence, and self-efficacy. Few multicenter studies have investigated these factors in relation to work experience in a Nordic context. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate job satisfaction, professional competence, and self-efficacy among registered nurses.

METHODS

This multicenter cross-sectional study survey was part of a larger overarching Swedish-Norwegian project, and was conducted among registered nurses (n = 1137) in September 2021. The participants worked in a variety of health care units, e.g., hospital units, primary health care, and home care. Data was subjected to descriptive and comparative statistical analysis; chi-square test, one-way between-groups analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

The findings show that job satisfaction is reported as lowest in registered nurses with medium-term work experience as compared to newly qualified and long-term work-experienced registered nurses. Professional competence and self-efficacy are reported as higher among registered nurses with long-term work experience as compared to those with medium-term work experience and newly qualified registered nurses. However, the participants reported their professional competence as highest in relation to the same factor - "Value-based nursing care" - regardless of their work experience.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

This study underscores the need for continuous support and professional development for registered nurses throughout their careers. Proactive support for newly qualified nurses may improve job satisfaction as they progress to being registered nurses with medium-term work experience. Tailored interventions to address the distinct needs of both newly qualified and medium-term work-experienced registered nurses are crucial for nurturing a sustainable nursing workforce.

Interprofessional Differences in Multidimensional Self-Efficacy Associated With Professional Performance in Nephrology During Case-Based Learning

Introduction

Postgraduate medical education assumes rising importance in the rapidly advancing field of medicine. Case-based learning (CBL), a learner-centered pedagogy employing clinical cases to improve decision-making, is widely embraced in postgraduate medical education, including nephrology. Studies suggest that learning self-efficacy (SE) was closely associated with learning motivation and academic performance; however, very few studies examined this association in postgraduate nephrology education. None evaluated whether there were interprofessional differences concerning such association.

Methods

In 2022, we prospectively enrolled physicians and nurses participating in chronic kidney disease (CKD) care from institutions around Taiwan. They completed the Professional Medical Learning Self-efficacy (PMLS) questionnaire after attending >1 CBL session involving CKD care. We undertook confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), followed by structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate associations between 5 dimensions of learning SE (conceptual understanding [CU], higher-order cognitive skills [HC], practical work [PW], everyday application [EA], and medical science communication [MSC]) and their professional SE in nephrology according to participants' medical professions.

Results

A total of 513 healthcare providers were surveyed. The convergent and construct validity of our questionnaire were satisfied after analyses. We found that better perceived professional performance in the form of higher professional SE in nephrology was significantly associated with all 5 dimensions of learning SE among physicians and nurses. Only CU and PW were significantly associated with physicians' professional performance; whereas among nurses, only HC and MSC were significantly associated.

Conclusion

We showed that learning SE was an important determinant of nephrology professional performance. Different medical professions posed influences on major SE dimensions.

Factors that contributed to Ontario adults' mental health during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic: a decision tree analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of individuals globally. However, less is known about the characteristics that contributed to some people having mental health problems during the pandemic, while others did not. Mental health problems can be understood on a continuum, ranging from acute (e.g., depression following a stressful event) to severe (e.g., chronic conditions that disrupt everyday functioning). Therefore, the purpose of this article was to generate profiles of adults who were more or less at risk for the development of mental health problems, in general, during the first 16-months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. Data were collected via online surveys at two time points: April-July 2020 and July-August 2021; 2,188 adults (Mage = 43.15 years; SD = 8.82) participated. Surveys included a demographic questionnaire and four previously validated tools to measure participants' mental health, subjective wellbeing, physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and sleep. A decision tree was generated at each time point for those with mental health problems, and those with no mental health problems. Results showed that subjective wellbeing was the biggest contributor to mental health status. Characteristics associated with no mental health problems among adults included having good wellbeing, being a good sleeper (quantity, quality, and patterns of sleep), and being over the age of 42. Characteristics associated with mental health problems included having poor wellbeing and being a poor sleeper. Findings revealed that specific characteristics interacted to contribute to adults' mental health status during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that wellbeing was the biggest contributor to mental health, researchers should focus on targeting adults' wellbeing to improve their mental health during future health crises.

Association of COVID-19 preventive behavior and job-related stress with the sleep quality of healthcare workers one year into the COVID-19 outbreak: a Japanese cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the association of COVID-19 preventive behavior and job-related stress with sleep quality among healthcare workers (HCWs). We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.

METHODS

A total of 586 participants who completed the questionnaire were eligible for the study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to evaluate sleep quality. We examined the level of engagement between poor sleep and COVID-19-related infection preventive behaviors, such as avoiding closed spaces, crowded places, and close contact (three Cs), a distance of at least one meter from others, wearing a face mask regularly, washing hands regularly, and working remotely, as well as job-related stress in the work environment, exposure to patients, potential risk of infection, fear of infecting others, need for social confinement, and financial instability. We conducted a hierarchical logistic regression analysis to examine the relationship between poor sleep and COVID-19 preventive behavior, job-related stress, and other covariates, including age, sex, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), which was used to measure non-specific psychological distress.

RESULTS

Poor sleep was observed in 223 (38.1%) participants. Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures was relatively high: 84.1% of participants answered "always" for wearing a face mask regularly and 83.4% for washing hands regularly. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, stress in the work environment (odds ratio [OR] = 2.09, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-3.20; p < 0.001), financial instability (OR = 1.73, 95% CI, 1.12-2.67; p < 0.05), and low adherence to working remotely (OR = 1.65, 95% CI, 1.06-2.57; p < 0.05) were independently and significantly associated with poor sleep after controlling for the covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the poor sleep rates of HCWs remained high. These results emphasize the need to protect HCWs from work environment stress and financial concerns.

Inequality on the frontline: A multi-country study on gender differences in mental health among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Healthcare workers (HCWs) were at increased risk for mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, with prior data suggesting women may be particularly vulnerable. Our global mental health study aimed to examine factors associated with gender differences in psychological distress and depressive symptoms among HCWs during COVID-19. Across 22 countries in South America, Europe, Asia and Africa, 32,410 HCWs participated in the COVID-19 HEalth caRe wOrkErS (HEROES) study between March 2020 and February 2021. They completed the General Health Questionnaire-12, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and questions about pandemic-relevant exposures. Consistently across countries, women reported elevated mental health problems compared to men. Women also reported increased COVID-19-relevant stressors, including insufficient personal protective equipment and less support from colleagues, while men reported increased contact with COVID-19 patients. At the country level, HCWs in countries with higher gender inequality reported less mental health problems. Higher COVID-19 mortality rates were associated with increased psychological distress merely among women. Our findings suggest that among HCWs, women may have been disproportionately exposed to COVID-19-relevant stressors at the individual and country level. This highlights the importance of considering gender in emergency response efforts to safeguard women's well-being and ensure healthcare system preparedness during future public health crises.

The effect of a mindfulness intervention (MI) on sleep disturbance (SD) among nurses

Sleep disturbance (SD) makes it difficult for nurses in intensive care units (ICUs) to perform activities that require focused and continual concentration, which raises the risk of medical errors, health issues, loss of sleep, and patient care mistakes. The mindfulness intervention (MI) was created to give participants the capacity to approach their own emotions with non-judgmental awareness and to become more conscious of their thoughts and feelings, and it reduced psychological symptoms. This study examined the effect of MI on SD among nurses. A randomized control trail (RCT) was conducted and recruited 100 nurses from intensive care and medical-surgical units from three hospitals located at the northern and middle regions of Jordan. Bivariate analysis including independent T-test and multiple linear regressions were used to study the differences between the interventional group (MI) and the comparison group (watching mindfulness videos) in terms of the impact on the SD. Nurses reported significant and high levels of SD. MI significantly reduced the level of SD and improved sleep quality among nurses. MI should be integrated into nursing competences to combat the negative impacts of poor sleep quality on nurses and organizational-sensitive outcomes.

Savoring mediates the mental health benefits of positive coping processes: A prospective population-based analysis

Positive coping (e.g., self-efficacy and positive reappraisal) and savoring could bear mental health implications under large-scale disasters such as COVID-19. The integrative affect-regulation framework of psychological resilience proposes that evaluative efforts regulate affect, which then predicts positive short-term consequences and better mental health. This two-wave study was done during the prolonged, intensive COVID-19 control rules in Hong Kong and examined (1) the prospective associations of positive coping processes (i.e., self-efficacy and positive reappraisal) (T1, March-August 2021) with subsequent psychiatric symptoms (T2, September 2021-February 2022) and (2) the mediating effect of T2 savoring in the associations. Path analyses revealed that T1 self-efficacy and positive reappraisal were inversely related to T2 psychiatric symptoms. T2 savoring partially mediated the effect of T1 self-efficacy but fully mediated the effect of T1 positive reappraisal. Self-efficacy could have more sustainable direct positive associations with mental health, whereas the benefit of positive reappraisal might need to be catalyzed by savoring over time. Our study offered concrete illustrations of the conceptual tenets of the affect-regulation framework.

Mental Health of Frontline Nurses in India During COVID-19: A Multisite Study

Background  The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for all healthcare providers. Nurses in Indian hospitals are at risk for mental health consequences of COVID-19-related stress. The study aimed to evaluate the mental health responses of Indian nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Method The study was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic from November 2020 to February 2021. Frontline nurses (n=387) working in both government and private sectors were recruited from four hospital centers across Mangalore, India. Nurses were selected based on specific inclusion criteria, including active duty within wards and intensive care units designated for COVID-19 care or suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recruitment and data collection were facilitated by medical residents using a mix of physical and electronic survey methods. Results Nurses within the private sector with low personal protective equipment (PPE) security experienced heightened anxiety. Somatic symptoms were incrementally related to mental health depending on the workplace setting; private sector staff reported greater depression symptoms compared to those in government-run hospitals. Self-efficacy buffered against depression outcomes only in nurses within the private sector working within non-COVID units. Conclusions This study's findings showed differential responses to the stress of COVID-19 based on the setting. Future studies should further explore the factors associated with such differences. Somatic symptoms can be indicators of mental health adversity. Early detection and supportive interventions need to be taken into account.

From Anxiety to Hardiness: The Role of Self-Efficacy in Spanish CCU Nurses in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and Objectives: Evidence shows that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses suffered from emotional symptoms, yet in spite of this, few studies within "positive psychology" have analyzed the emergence/promotion of positive traits, such as hardiness. In this context, the present study aimed to test a model regarding the mediating role of self-efficacy between anxiety experienced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and hardiness assessed six months later among nurses in critical care units (CCU) in Spain. Materials and Methods: An observational, descriptive, prospective longitudinal study with two data collection periods: (1) from the 1 to the 21 June 2020 (final phase of the state of alarm declared in Spain on 14 March) in which socio-demographic and occupational variables, anxiety (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, DASS-21), self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale, GSES) and basal resilience (Resilience Scale-14, RS-14) were assessed, and (2) a follow-up 6 months later (January-March 2021) in which hardiness (Occupational Hardiness Questionnaire, OHQ) was evaluated. To analyze the data, multivariate regressions were performed using the PROCESS macro (simple mediation, model 4). Results: A total of 131 Spanish nurses from CCUs, with a mean age of 40.54 years (88.5% women) participated in the study. Moderate and severe levels of anxiety were observed in 19.1% of the sample. Significant and positive correlations were observed between self-efficacy, hardiness and resilience (all p < 0.001). Significant negative correlations were observed between anxiety and self-efficacy (p < 0.001), hardiness (p = 0.027) and resilience (p = 0.005). The indirect effect of anxiety on hardiness through self-efficacy was significant (Effect (SE) = -0.275 (0.100); LLCI = -0.487, ULCI = -0.097), contributing to 28% of the variance, including resilience (p = 0.015), age (p = 0.784), gender (p = 0.294) and years of experience (p = 0.652) as covariates. A total mediation was observed (non-significant anxiety-hardiness direct effect; Effect (SE) = -0.053 (0.215), t = 0.248, p = 0.804, LLCI = -0.372, ULCI = 0.479). Conclusions: The results suggest that in Spanish CCU nurses, anxiety experienced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to the development of hardiness through positive resources such as self-efficacy.

Nurses' perceived health and occupational burnout: A focus on sleep quality, workplace violence, and organizational culture

AIM

This study investigates the mediation of sleep quality between perceived health and occupational burnout in hospital nurses, considering the moderation of workplace violence and organizational culture.

BACKGROUND

Occupational factors lead to physical and mental distress, burnout, and sleep issues in nurses. Approximately two-thirds of nurses experience burnout, impacting patient care quality and safety. Cultivating a positive organizational culture is essential for nursing workforce stability.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study employed convenience sampling to recruit 346 nurses from a teaching hospital in southern Taiwan in July-August 2020 (response rate: 87.3%). Self-administered questionnaires containing validated instruments were employed, including an adapted occupational burnout scale, the Chinese version of an organizational culture scale, a Perceived Health Questionnaire, a Workplace Violence Experience Scale, and the CPSQI; all instruments were reliable and valid. The analysis involved descriptive statistics, linear regression, and the Johnson-Neyman technique.

RESULTS

Nurses with better perceived health exhibited significantly lower occupational burnout (p < 0.001). Perceived health indirectly impacted burnout through sleep quality (p < 0.01) with organizational culture as a partial moderator. Bureaucratic organizational culture exacerbated this relationship. Additionally, decreased workplace violence moderated the connections among perceived health, sleep quality, and occupational burnout among nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the inverse correlation between nurses' perceived health and occupational burnout and considering factors such as workplace violence, organizational culture, and sleep quality, healthcare institutions can proactively take steps to enhance nurses' overall well-being and mitigate burnout.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

By implementing wellness programs, mental health support, security training, robust reporting, and a zero-tolerance approach to violence, healthcare stakeholders can foster a safe and supportive work environment for nurses, thus improving well-being, patient outcomes, and healthcare quality.

Mental health status and related factors influencing healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The mental health of healthcare workers during the coronavirus-2019 pandemic was seriously affected, and the risk of mental health problems was high. The present study sought to systematically evaluate the mental health problems of healthcare workers worldwide during the pandemic and to determine the latest global frequency of COVID-19 associated mental health problems.

METHODS

Data in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Elsevier, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO and the Web of Science before November 11, 2022, were systematically searched. Cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies were included. The meta-analysis used a random effects model to synthesize the comprehensive prevalence rate of mental health problems. Subgroup analyses were performed based on time of data collection; whether the country was or was not developed; continent; doctors and nurses; doctors/nurses vs. other healthcare workers; and psychological evaluation scale.

RESULTS

A total of 161 studies were included, including 341,014 healthcare workers worldwide, with women accounting for 82.8%. Occupationally, 16.2% of the healthcare workers were doctors, 63.6% were nurses and 13.3% were other medical staff. During the pandemic, 47% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35-60%) of healthcare workers reported job burnout, 38% (95% CI, 35-41%) experienced anxiety, 34% (95% CI 30-38%) reported depression, 30% (95% CI, 29-31%) had acute stress disorder, and 26% (95% CI, 21-31%) had post-traumatic stress disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found that there were common mental health problems among health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common was job burnout, followed by anxiety, depression, acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. Although the global pandemic has been brought under control, its long-term impact on the mental health of healthcare workers cannot be ignored. Additional research is required to develop measures to prevent, monitor and treat psychological disorders among healthcare workers.

Professional quality of life and fear of COVID-19 among Spanish nurses: A longitudinal repeated cross-sectional study

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate changes in compassion fatigue (CF), burnout (BO), compassion satisfaction (CS) and fear of COVID-19 among Spanish nurses by comparing two assessment points: before and after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has produced a great impact in healthcare worker's professional quality of life, especially among nurses. CF, BO and fear of COVID-19 decisively affect the care provided by nurses and put them at risk for mental health problems, so longitudinal studies are essential.

DESIGN

A repeated cross-sectional design was carried out with a time-lapse of 12 months.

METHODS

A total of 439 registered nurses in December 2020 and 410 in December 2021 participated in this study through an online survey. Data were collected using the Professional Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Occupational and sociodemographic variables were also analysed. This article adheres to the STROBE guidelines for the reporting of observational studies.

RESULTS

The fear of COVID-19 has not been reduced among nurses. The levels of BO remain stable and continue to be high in half of the professionals. CF has been reduced with a small effect size (d = 0.30), while CS has also decreased (d = 0.30). Positive correlations were found in both assessment points between fear of COVID-19 and BO (r = .44, p ≤ .001; r = .41, p ≤ .001) and also between fear of COVID and CF (r = .57, p ≤ .001; r = .50, p ≤ .001). Negative correlations between fear and CS were also found (r = - .16, p = .001; r = - .22, p ≤ .001).

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Programmes to reduce fear of COVID-19, BO and CF are needed to improve mental health and to prevent psychological distress among nurses, as well as to increase CS and preserve the productivity and quality of nursing care.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

The nurses collaborated by participating in the present study anonymously and disinterestedly.

Validation of the Spanish version of the five-item General Self-Efficacy (GSE) scale in a sample of nursing students: Evidence of validity, reliability, longitudinal invariance and changes in general self-efficacy and resilience in a two-wave cross-lagged panel model

AIM

The aim of this study is to validate the Spanish version of the five-item General Self-Efficacy scale in a sample of nursing students, by: 1) offering evidence of validity and reliability; 2) studying the longitudinal measurement invariance of the scale; 3) providing evidence on the changes in the levels of self-efficacy that occur after one year of nursing education; and 4) offering longitudinal evidence on the relationship between nursing students' self-efficacy and resilience levels.

BACKGROUND

Nurses' general self-efficacy has been related to both personal and organizational outcomes. In Spain, some competencies the students must acquire during the Degree in Nursing implicitly refer to self-efficacy. For the measurement of general self-efficacy, the General Self-Efficacy Scale is one of the most widely used in Europe.

DESIGN

A longitudinal design was used. Research took place at the University of Valencia and the University of the Balearic Islands (Spain). Participants were 324 nursing students, in the first year of the Nursing Degree.

METHODS

The five-item General Self-Efficacy scale and the Brief Resilience Coping Scale were used. Analyses included descriptive statistics, reliability estimates, confirmatory factor analysis, a longitudinal measurement invariance routine and several competing cross-lagged models.

RESULTS

Evidence of reliability shown by the scale was adequate and a one-factor solution for the structure was found. Additionally, the five-item GSE showed evidence of invariance over time. A causal effect of self-efficacy on nursing students' levels of resilience was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The Spanish version of the five-item General Self-Efficacy scale is a brief instrument that can contribute to the assessment of some of the basic competencies of the Degree in Nursing, which improve during their education and how these changes are related to other skills important for the nursing profession, such as resilience.

Sleep quality of nurses who worked in coping with COVID-19: an integrative review

OBJECTIVE

to analyze sleep quality of nurses who worked coping with COVID-19 in scientific evidence.

METHODS

an integrative review, carried out in seven databases, including studies between December 2021 and June 2022, without language restrictions. The sample consisted of 15 primary studies.

RESULTS

nurses working in hospital, intensive care, outpatient care and teaching institutions constitute a vulnerable group for sleep disorders: latency, duration, efficiency and quality. The disorders identified involved insomnia at varying levels of severity: daytime dysfunction and morning sleepiness. Night work and low capacity for self-care were determinants of impaired sleep patterns.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to greater vulnerability of nurses to changes in sleep, requiring strategies for risk management and well-being promotion.

Impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en los trastornos del sueño de profesionales de enfermería

Resumen Objetivo: analizar los factores relacionados con los trastornos del sueño que informaron los profesionales de enfermería durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Método: se trata de un estudio transversal y analítico realizado con profesionales de enfermería de todas las regiones de Brasil. Se recolectaron datos sobre caracterización sociodemográfica, condiciones de trabajo y preguntas sobre trastornos del sueño. Para estimar el Riesgo Relativo se utilizó el modelo de regresión de Poisson con medidas repetidas. Resultados: se analizaron 572 respuestas, que revelaron que durante la pandemia predominaron la duración del sueño no ideal, la mala calidad del sueño y los sueños sobre el ambiente laboral, con 75,2%, 67,1% y 66,8% respectivamente, además 523 (91,4%), 440 (76,9%) y 419 (73,2%) profesionales de enfermería manifestaron quejas de dificultad para conciliar el sueño, somnolencia diurna y sueño no reparador durante la pandemia, respectivamente. El riesgo relativo de padecer trastornos del sueño durante la pandemia fue significativo para todas las variables y categorías estudiadas. Conclusión: la duración del sueño no ideal, la mala calidad del sueño, los sueños sobre el ambiente laboral, las quejas de dificultad para conciliar el sueño, la somnolencia diurna y el sueño no reparador fueron los trastornos del sueño predominantes en los profesionales de enfermería durante la pandemia. Estos hallazgos indican posibles consecuencias para la salud, así como para la calidad del trabajo realizado.

O impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 nas alterações do sono de profissionais de enfermagem

Resumo Objetivo: analisar os fatores relacionados às alterações no sono relatadas pelos profissionais de enfermagem durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Método: trata-se de um estudo transversal e analítico, realizado com profissionais de enfermagem de todas as regiões do Brasil. Foram coletados dados de caracterização sociodemográfica, condições de trabalho e questões sobre alterações de sono. Para estimar o Risco Relativo foi utilizado o modelo de regressão de Poisson com medidas repetidas. Resultados: foram analisadas 572 respostas, as quais revelaram que a duração não ideal do sono, a má qualidade do sono e os sonhos com o ambiente de trabalho foram predominantes durante a pandemia, com 75,2%, 67,1% e 66,8% respectivamente, assim como as queixas de dificuldade ao dormir, sonolência diurna e sono não restaurador durante a pandemia foram relatadas por 523 (91,4%), 440 (76,9%) e 419 (73,2%) dos profissionais de enfermagem, respectivamente. O risco relativo de apresentar tais alterações de sono, durante a pandemia foi significativo para todas as variáveis e as categorias estudadas. Conclusão: duração não ideal do sono, má qualidade do sono, sonhos com o ambiente de trabalho, queixas de dificuldade ao dormir, sonolência diurna e sono não restaurador foram as alterações do sono predominantes entre os profissionais de enfermagem durante a pandemia. Estes achados apontam para possíveis consequências na saúde, bem como na qualidade do trabalho realizado.

Exploring Disparities in Self-Reported Mental Health Symptoms Across Professional Categories in Spain's Emergency Medical Services: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze stress, anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy levels among Spanish out-of-hospital emergency medical professionals from February 1, 2021, to April 30, 2021.

METHODS

A nationwide survey was completed by 1666 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) were used. Data analysis used chi-squared, análisis of variance (ANOVA), and logistic regressions.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 833 (50%) men, with an average age of 44.3 ± 9.9 y (range: 19-67 y). Occupational distribution included 453 (27.2%) physicians, 474 (28.4%) nurses, and 739 (44.4%) emergency medical technicians (EMTs). EMTs exhibited higher odds of severe or extremely severe depression compared with physicians (odds ratio [OR]: 1.569; 95% confidenceinterval [95% CI]: 1.213-2.030) and nurses (OR: 1.561; 95% CI: 1.211-2.012). EMTs also displayed higher probabilities of severe or extremely severe anxiety compared with nurses (OR: 1.944; 95% CI: 1.529-2.701). Furthermore, EMTs demonstrated elevated probabilities of severe or extremely severe stress compared with physicians (OR: 1.387; 95% CI: 1.088-1.770). However, no significant differences were found in self-efficacy, with a median value of 73 [20].

CONCLUSIONS

Out-of-hospital EMS workers experienced mental health challenges, showing varying levels of depression, stress, and anxiety across different occupational groups. EMTs were particularly affected.

The relationship between the COVID-19 anxiety and self-efficacy of patients undergoing hemodialysis: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The spread of the COVID-19 increased anxiety and stress among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Unpleasant experiences in the lives of these patients reduced their quality of life. Self-efficacy is an effective factor that can improve the quality of life of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the COVID-19 anxiety and self-efficacy in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study used purposive sampling to select 110 patients undergoing hemodialysis in Sirjan from October to late November 2021. Demographic and clinical information questionnaire, the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS25. A significance level < 0.05 was considered.

RESULTS

The results showed that the mean score of COVID-19 anxiety was 13.14 ± 7.38, which was lower than the midpoint of the questionnaire. The mean self-efficacy score was 57.72 ± 9.68, with 73.8% (N = 79) of the participants having high self-efficacy and 26.2% (N = 28) having moderate self-efficacy. We found no significant relationship between self-efficacy and the COVID-19 anxiety (P = 0.31), as well as between self-efficacy and the psychological dimension of the corona disease anxiety scale (P = 0.96), but we observed a negative, poor and significant relationship between self-efficacy and its physical dimension (P = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing hemodialysis showed low anxiety and high self-efficacy. No significant relationship was found between COVID-19 anxiety and self-efficacy, but a weak correlation was observed with the physical dimension of anxiety. Increasing self-efficacy through patient education and support can improve outcomes and reduce hospitalizations for these patients.

Poor sleep is associated with work environment among 10,087 French healthcare workers: Results from a nationwide survey

Poor sleep is a prevalent issue among healthcare workers and can have detrimental effects on their health. Various individual and professional factors, including the work environment, may contribute to poor sleep. However, only a limited number of studies have examined the simultaneous influence of these factors. Hence, we conducted a nationwide survey among graduated healthcare workers in both public and private healthcare facilities in France. The aim was to analyze the association between poor sleep, assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (>5), and the work environment, evaluated using the Job Content Questionnaire. The study encompassed 10,087 healthcare workers, among whom 6,540 (64.8%) reported experiencing poor sleep. Nurses, health executives, nursing assistants, and other allied healthcare professionals were more likely to experience poor sleep compared to physicians. Through multivariate regression analysis, we identified several aspects of the work environment associated with an increased likelihood of poor sleep. These factors included high speed and quantity of work, high complexity and intensity, high fragmentation and unpredictability, limited decision-making latitude, underutilization of skills, lack of emotional support from colleagues, and sustained workplace bullying. These findings highlight the significance of considering the work environment in addressing sleep issues among healthcare professionals.

Resilience, depression and self-efficacy among Brazilian nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic

This aim of this study was to analyze levels of resilience, depression and self-efficacy among Brazilian nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study between October and December 2020. Student's t test, analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were used to investigate the impact of two main factors (Resilience and Self-efficacy) on depression. A total of 8,792 nursing professionals participated in the study; 5,124 (58.8%) had low levels of resilience. The mean overall score for Depression was 0.74, ranging from 0.59 to 0.80, while the mean overall score for Self-efficacy was 0.68, ranging from 0.56 to 0.80. The variable that had the strongest impact on depression levels was Resilience, explaining 6.6% of the outcome (p < 0.001, AdjustedR2 = 0.066). In general, respondents had low levels of resilience and self-efficacy and showed high mean depression scores. Level of resilience had an impact on depression. The findings reveal an urgent need for actions to promote the psychological health of nursing professionals working in crisis situations such as pandemics.

Mental Illnesses and Quality of Sleep Among Nurses Working at a Tertiary Hospital in Riyadh During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives This study primarily aimed to estimate the prevalence of mental illnesses (depression, anxiety, and stress) along with the poor quality of sleep, with a secondary focus on determining whether there was an association between mental health and quality of sleep among nurses working at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic on 309 nurses from different departments at King Khalid University Hospital. Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21), and sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) via an online survey. Results The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 30.4%, 43.7%, and 16.5%, respectively, while 61.5% showed poor sleep quality. The association between poor quality of sleep and the other outcome variables of mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) was highly significant (p<0.0001). Conclusion Nurses have reported an increased prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and poor quality of sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic, making them particularly vulnerable to mental illnesses and sleep difficulties in the event of future pandemics. There is a clear link between mental health issues and poor quality of sleep, necessitating the provision of psychological support for nurses. Enhancing sleep quality is recommended as a way to decrease the prevalence of mental health concerns.

Determining Self-Efficacy of Nurses Who Graduated From Distance Education Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

The current literature states that distance education has caused a lack of professional skills, regression of existing professional skills (Kaya & Akin Isik, 2021; Kürtüncü & Kurt, 2020), a lack of self-confidence, and feelings of inadequacy among nursing students (George et al., 2020). The current study examined the professional self-efficacy of nurses who graduated from distance education because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

METHOD

This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2020 and June 2022 with 164 nurses who graduated from distance education in 2020-2021 from three faculties of health sciences.

RESULTS

Professional self-efficacy of the nurses was found to be above average. Male nurses and nurses who believed distance education had a negative impact on their professional skills had significantly higher professional self-efficacy. Some nurses reported that their professional theoretical knowledge was insufficient and defined the effect of distance education on their professional skills as relatively negative.

CONCLUSION

Most of the nurses expressed that distance education had a negative effect on their professional self-efficacy and working life. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2023;54(10):480-488.].

Sleep Quality and Its Relationship to Anxiety and Hardiness in a Cohort of Frontline Italian Nurses during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on the psychological and psychopathological status of the population and health care workers in terms of insomnia, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The primary aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the impact of the pandemic on insomnia levels of a cohort of Italian nurses, particularly those involved in the care of COVID-19 patients. The secondary aim was to identify the interaction between insomnia and hardiness, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive-exploratory study was conducted using an online survey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (March to July 2020). The questionnaire consisted of multiple-choice, open-ended, closed, and semi-closed questions. The psychometric tools administered were the Dispositional Resilience Scale (DRS-15), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).

RESULTS

a cohort of 1167 nurses fully completed the questionnaire (86.2% of total respondents). The insomnia scale survey showed an increase in post-pandemic scores compared to those before the pandemic, implying that insomnia levels increased after the first pandemic wave. Insomnia scores were directly correlated with anxiety levels (r = 0.571; p ≤ 0.05) and inversely correlated with hardiness levels (r = -0.324; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed the following protective factors: not having worked in COVID-19 wards, high levels of hardiness (commitment), and the presence of high pre-pandemic insomnia disorder. The main risk factor for insomnia reported in the analysis was a high anxiety score.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Anxiety represented the main risk factor for insomnia severity in our sample, while hardiness was confirmed as a protective factor. Thus, it is necessary to design further studies to identify additional risk factors for poor sleep quality and to develop educational courses and strategies aimed at enhancing rest and sleep quality, especially for frontline nurses.

Risk prediction of sleep disturbance in clinical nurses: a nomogram and artificial neural network model

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbance occur among nurses at a high incidence.

AIM

To develop a Nomogram and a Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to predict sleep disturbance in clinical nurses.

METHODS

A total of 434 clinical nurses participated in the questionnaire, a cross-sectional study conducted from August 2021 to June 2022.They were randomly distributed in a 7:3 ratio between training and validation cohorts.Nomogram and ANN model were developed using predictors of sleep disturbance identified by univariate and multivariate analyses in the training cohort; The 1000 bootstrap resampling and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were used to evaluate the predictive accuracy in the training and validation cohorts.

RESULTS

Sleep disturbance was found in 180 of 304 nurses(59.2%) in the training cohort and 80 of 130 nurses (61.5%) in the validation cohort.Age, chronic diseases, anxiety, depression, burnout, and fatigue were identified as risk factors for sleep disturbance. The calibration curves of the two models are well-fitted. The sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) of the models were calculated, resulting in sensitivity of 83.9%(77.5-88.8%)and 88.8% (79.2-94.4%) and specificity of83.1% (75.0-89.0%) and 74.0% (59.4-84.9%) for the training and validation cohorts, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The sleep disturbance risk prediction models constructed in this study have good consistency and prediction efficiency, and can effectively predict the occurrence of sleep disturbance in clinical nurses.

An Observational Cross-Sectional Study on the Correlation between Professional Competencies and Self-Efficacy in Albanian Registered Nurses

(1) Background: The assessment and application of registered nurses' professional skills are essential to providing quality and safe care. Self-efficacy can positively affect the professional competence of registered nurses. This study analysed professional competence and its association with self-efficacy among registered nurses. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted. The sampling was conventional. The data collection took place through the Albanian version of the Nurse Professional Competence Scale Short Form (A-NPCS-SF), which was used to assess their professional skills, and the Albanian version of the Nursing Profession Self-Efficacy Scale (A-NPSES), which was used to assess their self-efficacy. The study was based on a convenience sample of 985 registered nurses from the 12 Albanian provinces. (3) Results: The Cronbach alpha value for the A-NPCS-SF scale was 0.947, while for the A-NPSES scale, it was 0.875, proving both scales to be reliable. Self-efficacy does not play an essential role in the development of the professional competence of registered nurses since our survey found only one dimension correlates with these two elements. (4) Conclusions: The results of our analysis have instead highlighted the importance of a close relationship between job satisfaction and the development of professional skills.

Influence of self-efficacy on male military pilots' capability to handle special situations: a moderated mediation model

This study aimed to explore the mediating and moderating effects of resilience and perseverance on pilots' self-efficacy and capability of handling special situations. Using cluster sampling, 251 pilots' self-efficacy, special flight situation handling capability, resilience and perseverance were assessed using standardized scales. Pilots with high self-efficacy can improve their resilience to enhance their capability to handle special situations. An analysis was performed that included perseverance in the mediation model, and results showed that the influence of self-efficacy on special situation handling through resilience was moderated by perseverance. The relations between self-efficacy and special flight situation handling capability present a moderated mediation model. A pilot's capability of handling special situations, ensuring flight safety and combat capability may be enhanced by improving their self-efficacy, resilience, and perseverance.

Anxiety-associated factors among employees with different personality profiles: a cross-sectional study in China

Introduction

Anxiety not only harms employees' work efficiency and satisfaction but also presents as a hazard to their mental health. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety among Chinese employees, identify their personality profiles and explore the anxiety-related factors in different personality profiles.

Methods

This national investigation adopted the multistage random sampling method to recruit employees. A total of 3,875 employees were enrolled in this study, and 39.1% (1,515/3,875) of them were experiencing anxiety at the time of the study. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify personality subgroups among Chinese employees based on their BFI-10 scores.

Results

LPA identified a three-profile solution among Chinese employees: average, resilient, and introverted. Employees in the resilient profile had the lowest anxiety rate (16.1%, 132/822), and those in the average profile had the highest rate (46.8%, 1,166/2,494). Multivariate analysis results showed that for all personality profiles, self-efficacy was positively associated with anxiety, and work-family conflict was negatively associated with anxiety. High levels of perceived social support and self-efficacy reduced the risk of anxiety and higher work-family conflict and no partner increased the odds of anxiety in the average profile. For the introverted profile, female gender, and living in a city increased the chances of suffering from anxiety.

Discussion

This study identified that each personality profile of Chinese employees had its own set of factors associated with anxiety, which could facilitate employers to provide targeted interventions to alleviate employees' anxiety.

COVID-19 pandemic-related depression and anxiety under lockdown: The chain mediating effect of self-efficacy and perceived stress

Objective

In early March 2022, the highly contagious Omicron variant rapidly emerged in Shanghai. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety in isolated or quarantined populations under lockdown.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between May 12 and 25, 2022. The depressive and anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, self-efficacy and perceived social support in the 167 participants under isolated or quarantined were examined using the Patient Health Questionnaires-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). Data on demographic information were also collected.

Findings

The prevalence of depression and anxiety in isolated or quarantined populations was estimated to be 12 and 10.8%, respectively. Higher education level, being healthcare workers, being infected, longer duration of segregation and higher perceived stress level were identified as risk factors for depression and anxiety. Furthermore, the relationship between perceived social support and depression (anxiety) was mediated not only by perceived stress but also the chain of self-efficacy and perceived stress.

Conclusion

Being infected, higher education level, longer duration of segregation and higher perceived stress were associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety among isolated or quarantined populations under lockdown. The formulation of psychological strategies that promote one's perceived social support and self-efficacy as well as reduce perceived stress is supposed to be drawn.

The Spiritual and Religious Coping of Mothers with Disabled Children in Turkey: Correlation Between Stress Coping Styles and Self-Efficacy

This study aimed to determine the correlation between stress coping styles and self-efficacy with regard to the spiritual and religious coping of mothers with disabled children. The descriptive and relational screening model was used in this study. The research was completed with 227 mothers in a private rehabilitation center at Turkey. The data were collected using Maternal Spiritual Coping, Religious Coping Styles, Stress Coping Styles Scales (SCSS), and General Self-Efficacy Scales. As a result of the study, there was a statistically advanced degree of significant correlation in a positive direction between effective coping with stress and spiritual coping (p < 0.001), and a negative significant correlation between ineffective coping with stress and general self-efficacy (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was a negative significant correlation between the SCSS-effective coping dimension with the SCSS-ineffective coping points (p < 0.05). The high level of spiritual coping of mothers and its effect on coping with stress is an important result. For the participation of children with disabilities and their parents in society, it is essential to identify components such as mental health and spiritual coping that will improve mothers' mental health so that mothers can effectively cope with the difficulties they experience.

Nursing Profession Self-Efficacy Scale-Version 2: A Stepwise Validation with Three Cross-Sectional Data Collections

BACKGROUND

The nursing professional self-efficacy scale (NPSES) is one of the most used self-reporting tools for assessing nursing self-efficacy. Its psychometric structure was described differently in several national contexts. This study aimed to develop and validate version 2 of the NPSES (NPSES2), which is a brief version of the original scale selecting items that contribute to stably detecting attributes of care delivery and professionalism as descriptors of salient aspects of the nursing profession.

METHODS

Three different and subsequent cross-sectional data collections were employed to reduce the number of items to generate the NPSES2 and validate its new emerging dimensionality. The first (June 2019-January 2020) involved 550 nurses and was used to reduce the number of the original scale items by using a Mokken scale analysis (MSA) to ensure the selection of items consistently with the invariant item ordering properties. The subsequent data collection was performed to conduct an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) involving 309 nurses (September 2020-January 2021), and the last data collection (n = 249) was performed to cross-validate with a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the most plausible dimensionality derived from the EFA (June 2021-February 2022).

RESULTS

The MSA led to the removal of twelve items and retention of seven items (Hs = 0.407, standard error = 0.023), which showed adequate reliability (rho reliability = 0.817). The EFA showed a two-factor solution as the most plausible structure (factors loading ranged from 0.673 to 0.903; explained variance = 38.2%), which was cross-validated by the CFA that showed adequate fit indices: χ² (13, N = 249) = 44.521, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.946; TLI = 0.912; RMSEA = 0.069 (90% CI = 0.048-0.084); SRMR = 0.041. The factors were labeled as care delivery (four items) and professionalism (three items).

CONCLUSIONS

NPSES2 is recommended to allow researchers and educators to assess nursing self-efficacy and inform interventions and policies.

Sleep Quality, Insomnia, and Perceived Stress among Colombian Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective  The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a great burden on healthcare workers worldwide. The aim of the present study was to assess sleep quality, insomnia, and perceived stress in healthcare workers of a high complexity hospital located in Bogota, Colombia. Methods  Cross-sectional study in which 1,155 healthcare workers at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio in Bogotá, Colombia were included, between September and October 2020. Using an online-based survey, self-reported variables were assessed including demographics, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and 10 item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Associations between these variables were evaluated. Results  Fifty percent of the respondents were between 31 and 45 years old, and 76 percent were women. Most of the surveyed were the nursing staff. Poor sleep quality, insomnia, and high perceived stress was found in 74.9, 12.4, and 13.2%, respectively. Poor sleep quality was predominantly found in females, in the 31 to 45 years old group and in married personnel. Also, poor sleep quality was found in relation to a moderate to high perceived risk of COVID-19 infection by the family of the workers surveyed. Discussion  Poor sleep quality, moderate rates of insomnia, and perceived stress were found among healthcare workers committed to COVID-19 infected patients in Colombia. The identification of workers at greater risk and the implementation of targeted interventions are called upon as the results.

Levels of Anxiety and Stress Experienced by Nurses in Inpatient Units

Objective: To assess state-trait anxiety levels and their correlation with occupational stress and socio-biographical and occupational factors in nursing professionals. Materials and Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted in the inpatient units of a university hospital in southern Brazil, with the participation of 162 nursing professionals. For data collection, socio-biographical and occupational forms, the Stress-Symptom Scale, the Workplace Stress Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used. The data were analyzed based on descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Nursing professionals have moderate levels of state-trait anxiety. There is a positive correlation between state-trait anxiety scores, stress scores, and stress dimensions (rho = 0.811, p < 0.001). “Trait” anxiety is associated with years of experience in nursing (PR 0.97) and psychic-mental health follow-up (PR 1.97). “State” anxiety is associated with sex (PR 0.54), education (PR 2.26), and hours of sleep (PR 0.92). Conclusions: “State” anxiety is associated with sex, age, higher education level, and psychic-mental health follow-up; however, years of experience in nursing and hours of sleep were found to be protective factors.

Sociodemographic Aspects and Healthy Behaviors Associated With Perceived Life Satisfaction in Health Professionals

BACKGROUND

Life satisfaction is a determining factor for the improvement of mental and physical health. Health care workers are a vulnerable population to suffer alterations in the factors that affect life satisfaction. Determining the influence of these factors on quality of life is important for their proper management.

OBJECTIVE

To examine sociodemographic factors and healthy behaviors influencing life satisfaction in Peruvian professionals.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 506 health care workers, who had a mean age of 40.34 years (SD = 10.39). A sociodemographic questionnaire, sleep quality, physical activity, eating habits, and life satisfaction were used. A regression model was fitted with the life satisfaction variable as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

In multivariable analysis, age (β = -.938, P < .01) and perception of poor health status (β = -4.743, P < .001) were found to be associated with lower life satisfaction. On the other hand, higher university education level (β = 1.667, P < .001), absence of smoking (β = 3.202, P < .01), absence of depressive symptoms (β = 3.390, P < .001), interest in daily activities (β = 3.503, P < .05), good sleep quality (β = 1.027, P < .01), a high frequency of physical activity (β = 1.056, P < .01), and healthy eating are variables associated with higher life satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Sociodemographic aspects such as age and the perception of poor health are associated with lower life satisfaction. On the other hand, healthy behaviors such as absence of smoking, absence of depressive symptoms, interest in daily activities, good quality of sleep, high frequency of physical activity, and a healthy diet were associated with higher life satisfaction.

Being a technician during COVID-19: a qualitative cross-sectional survey on the experiences of clinical neurophysiology technicians

BACKGROUND

During the Sars-CoV-2 virus pandemic, Italy faced an unrivaled health emergency. Its impact has been significant on the hospital system and personnel. Clinical neurophysiology technicians played a central role (but less visibly so compared to other healthcare workers) in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aims to explore the experiences of clinical neurophysiology technicians during the pandemic and contribute to the debate on the well-being of healthcare workers on the front line.

METHODS

We implemented a cross-sectional survey across Italy. It contained questions that were open-ended for participants to develop their answers and acquire a fuller perspective. The responses were analyzed according to the framework method.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-one responses were valid, and the following themes were generated: technicians' experiences in their relationship with patients, technicians' relationship with their workgroup and directors, and technicians' relationship with the context outside of their work. The first theme included sub-themes: fear of infection, empathy, difficulty, a sense of obligation and responsibility, anger, and sadness. The second theme contained selfishness/solidarity in the workgroup, lack of protection/collaboration from superiors, stress, and distrust. The last theme included fear, stress/tiredness, serenity, sadness, and anger.

CONCLUSION

This study contributes to building a humanized perspective for personnel management, bringing attention to the technical work of healthcare professionals in an emergency and the emotional and relational dimensions. These are the starting points to define proper, contextually adequate support.

Global prevalence and associated factors of sleep disorders and poor sleep quality among firefighters: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Lack of sleep can affect the health and performance of firefighters. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the global prevalence of sleep disorders and poor sleep quality among firefighters and reported associated factors. Four academic databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase) were systematically searched from January 1, 2000 to January 24, 2022. These databases were selected as they are known to index studies in this field. The search algorithm included two groups of keywords and all possible combinations of these words. The first group included keywords related to sleep and the second group keywords related to the firefighting profession. The relevant Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to evaluate study quality. Data from eligible studies were included in a meta-analysis. In total, 47 articles informed this review. The pooled prevalence of sleep disorders and poor sleep quality in firefighters were determined as 30.49% (95% CI [25.90, 35.06]) and 51.43% (95% CI [42.76, 60.10]), respectively. The results of a subgroup analysis showed that individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) had a higher prevalence of sleep disorders than those in high-income countries (HICs) but HICs had a higher prevalence of poor sleep quality than LMICs. Various factors, including shift work, mental health, injuries and pain, and body mass index were associated with sleep health. The findings of this review highlight the need for sleep health promotion programs in firefighters.

Translation and psychometric evaluation of the persian version of the "Nursing Profession Self-Efficacy Scale"

BACKGROUND

Self-efficacy demonstrates the general competence of nurses in providing nursing care. Evaluation of nurses' self-efficacy is of particular importance to improve nursing care. The existing self-efficacy scales in Iran are insufficient due to lack of focus on the specific issues of the nursing profession. This study was conducted with the aim of translating and psychometrically evaluating the Persian version of "Nursing Profession Self-Efficacy Scale" (NPSES).

MATERIALS AND METHOD

This cross-sectional study was conducted in two parts: translation and psychometric evaluation. After getting permission from the original developer of the scale, the process of translating the questionnaire into Persian was done based on the Polit and Yang model. Then, the face validity was explored using a qualitative method with the participation of 10 nurses. The content validity was investigated using a qualitative and quantitative method (content validity index) with the participation of 15 experts. Construct validity was surveyed with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis via completing the questionnaire by 550 nurses worked in different wards of hospitals affiliated to Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd/Iran, who were selected using convenience sampling. The reliability of the tool was also established with internal consistency and stability methods, with the participation of 30 nurses. SPSS20 and AMOS were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

"Nursing Profession Self-Efficacy Scale" includes 19 items for which the translation and cultural compatibility of the Persian version were confirmed. Face validity and content validity (SCVI/Ave = 0.9) were acceptable. By conducting exploratory factor analysis, three factors (professional situation, care situation, and support situation) were identified, which accounted for 62.38% of the variance of the scores. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the values of the fit indices confirmed the appropriate fit of the model. The reliability was established using Cronbach's α method (α = 0.86) and an ICC of 0.83, indicating that the scale was reliable.

CONCLUSION

The translation, validity, and reliability of the Persian version of "Nursing Profession Self-Efficacy Scale" suggested that this tool has a clear and legitimate translation. Also, this tool has good validity and reliability and can be used as one of the tools to measure the self-efficacy of Iranian nurses.

The impact of emotional intelligence on life satisfaction among Chinese nurses: A chain mediating model

Introduction

Nurses' life satisfaction exerts a positive impact on their professional careers, and it seriously affects their physical and mental health. Low life satisfaction has become a key factor in the global shortage of nurses. Emotional intelligence may protect nurses from negative emotions that can affect the care they provide, as well as their life satisfaction. In this study, we aims to explore the impact of emotional intelligence on life satisfaction, and even verify the chain mediating effect of self-efficacy and resilience on this relationship among Chineses nurses.

Method

The Emotional Intelligence Scale, the General Self, Efficacy Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were used to survey 709 nurses in southwest China. To analyze mediating effects, SPSS 26.0 and Process V3.3 were used for statistical processing.

Result

Emotional intelligence positively predicted life satisfaction. Meanwhile, it was also found that emotional intelligence and life satisfaction were continuously mediated by self-efficacy and resilience, and the indirect effect value was 0.033, accounting for 17.37%.

Conclusion

This study reveals how emotional intelligence affects nurses' life satisfaction. The results of this study have certain implications for nurses to better balance their career and life. Nursing managers should provide nurses with a favorable working environment from the perspective of positive psychology, improve their sense of self-efficacy and resilience, ultimately improve their life satisfaction.

Social support as a mediator between anxiety and quality of sleep among Chinese parents of special children

Objective

The psychological problems among Chinese parents of special children (mental retardation, limb disorder, hearing impairment, autism, cerebral palsy and other types) should be paid more attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between anxiety, social support, coping style and sleep quality among Chinese parents of special children during the early COVID-19 epidemic, so as to provide more help for the mental health of parents of special children scientifically and effectively.

Method

A total of 305 Chinese parents of special children were invited to accomplish four questionnaires. Anxiety was measured by the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, social support was evaluated by the Perceived Social Support Scale, sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and coping style was measured by the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire.

Results

This study revealed that anxiety was positively correlated with sleep quality (p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with social support (p < 0.01) and coping style (p < 0.01). Sleep quality was negatively correlated with social support (p < 0.01), but not significantly correlated with coping style (p > 0.05). Social support was positively correlated with coping style (p < 0.01). The study confirmed that social support had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between anxiety and sleep quality.

Conclusion

The anxiety of parents of special children not only directly affects sleep quality, but also indirectly affects sleep quality through social support. Social support can alleviate the impact of anxiety on sleep quality through the mediating role.

Changing sleep patterns and anxiety due to Covid-19 home confinement among working population: A cross-sectional study

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic took the entire world unawares and people were forced to stay indoors overnight. Due to this a drastic change ensued in lifestyle with many succumbing to various kinds of stresses and psychological problems. This study aims to study the changing sleep patterns and level of anxiety among the working population due to the COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown.

Methodology

An online survey was conducted using a cloud-based website. The sleep patterns both prior to and during the lockdown period of the pandemic were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The level of anxiety during both these periods (before and during lockdown) amongst the working population was also assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scores (GADS).

Results

A total of 224 individuals participated in the study of which 52.7% were males and 47.3% were females. On analysis, the lifestyle and sleep deprivation scores showed that before the lockdown only 2.7% reported a low score out of total participants. However, this number was raised to 13.4% during the lockdown. The percentage of people reporting deteriorated sleep quality gradually increased with females reporting moderate to severe category of Generalized Anxiety Disorder scores as compared to Males.

Conclusion

The study suggests that there has been a significant change in the sleep quality of the study participants due to Covid enforced lockdown which if unnoticed might lead to significant health problems. The effective use of programs like yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises, if followed timely could reduce psychological distress to some extent.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep disorders among Nursing professionals

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the factors related to sleep disorders reported by Nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD

this is a cross-sectional and analytical study conducted with Nursing professionals from all Brazilian regions. Sociodemographic data, working conditions and questions about sleep disorders were collected. The Poisson regression model with repeated measures was used to estimate the Relative Risk.

RESULTS

572 answers were analyzed, which revealed that non-ideal sleep duration, poor sleep quality and dreams about the work environment were predominant during the pandemic, with 75.2%, 67.1% and 66.8% respectively; as well as complaints of difficulty sleeping, daytime sleepiness and non-restorative sleep during the pandemic were reported by 523 (91.4%), 440 (76.9%) and 419 (73.2%) of the Nursing professionals, respectively. The relative risk of having such sleep disorders during the pandemic was significant for all variables and categories studied.

CONCLUSION

non-ideal sleep duration, poor sleep quality, dreams about the work environment, complaints regarding difficulty sleeping, daytime sleepiness and non-restorative sleep were the predominant sleep disorders among Nursing professionals during the pandemic. Such findings point to possible consequences on health, as well as on the quality of the work performed.

High Rates of Anxiety Among Adolescents in a Partial Hospitalization Program

Background

Anxiety disorders are garnering increasing attention for their contribution to high-risk issues and functional impairment. Adolescents are typically admitted to partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) due to high-risk presentations. However, the frequency of anxiety disorders in PHPs is not well-established, in part because anxiety can be overlooked in acute settings due to limited lengths of stay and focus on stabilization.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the frequency and severity of anxiety disorders among a sample of adolescent PHP patients to assess the need for anxiety-specific assessment and interventions in higher acuity settings.

Methods

Participants were 158 youths ages 13 to 19 years old (M = 15.49 years, SD = 1.50) who were admitted to an adolescent PHP and their caregivers. Clinician-reported diagnostic information was collected from the youth's electronic medical record, and self- and caregiver-rated severity of anxiety was collected using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotions Disorders (SCARED-C/P). Frequency of anxiety and related disorder diagnoses and self- and caregiver-reported severity were assessed using descriptive statistical methods.

Results

75% of participants were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (n = 118). On average, participants with anxiety disorders had elevated SCARED-C scores. Youths with depressive disorders had elevated SCARED-C scores even when they did not carry anxiety disorder diagnoses. Caregiver ratings of the youth's anxiety symptoms on the SCARED-P were elevated when youths had anxiety disorders.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that anxiety is common in an adolescent PHP setting and support investing in evidence-based assessment and treatment of anxiety in high-acuity settings.

The other side of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study on mental health in a sample of Italian nurses during the second wave

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a drastic increase in the workload of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, with serious consequences for their psychological well-being. Our study aimed to identify demographic and work-related factors, as well as clinical predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), in nurses employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We carried out a cross-sectional study between December 2020 and April 2021 on nurses employed during the COVID-19 second wave (October - December 2020). We evaluated PTSD and GAD using two validated questionnaires: i) the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R); and ii) General Anxiety Disorder -7 (GAD-7).

Results

Overall, 400 nurses, whose mean age was 34.3 years (SD ± 11.7), were included in the study. Most were female (78.5%), unmarried (58.5%) and employed in the central (61.5%) regions of Italy. A total of 56.8% of all participants had clinical predictors of PTSD, recording a median IES-R score (IQR) of 37.0 (22.0, 51.0) (range 1-84; cut-off >33 for PTSD). Furthermore, 50% of respondents reported moderate-to-severe symptoms consistent with GAD, recording a median GAD-7 score (IQR) of 9.5 (6.0,14.0) (range 0-21; cut-off >10 for GAD). Multivariable analysis showed that moderate-to-severe GAD (aOR = 4.54, 95% CI: 2.93 - 7.05), being employed in the critical care area (aOR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.01 - 3.00) and being female (aOR= 1.88, 95% CI: 1.09 - 3.22) were significantly associated with the presence of clinical predictors of PTSD.

Discussion

The levels of PTSD symptoms and anxiety among nurses were high during the pandemic. PTSD and GAD represent a public health problem that should be addressed in the post-pandemic period. Healthcare organizations need to activate specific support and rehabilitation networks and programs for healthcare professionals employed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using Job Demands–Resources Theory to Predict Work–Life Balance among Academicians in Private Universities in Egypt during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Employers are divided into those who support their employees to achieve work–life balance and others who believe that employees should devote anything in their life to fulfilling work obligations. Employees in different occupations struggle to balance their work and life adequately. Especially during the pandemic, the barriers between work and life diminished. This study proposes that self-efficacy could be a potential moderator under personal resources. Drawing on the Job Demands–Resources Theory (JD–R) and Conservation of Resources Theory (COR), this study empirically tested the role of emotional demands and supervisor support in predicting the academicians’ perception of work–life balance in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 504 academicians employed in the top 10 private universities in Egypt. Results reveal that emotional demands and supervisor support were related to work–life balance. Self-efficacy moderated the relationship between supervisor support and work–life balance. However, self-efficacy did not moderate the relationship between emotional demands and work–life balance. Our findings provide new insights, contribute to the literature on the work–life balance topic among academicians during the pandemic, and enhance the universities’ understanding of implementing strategies to help achieve a work–life balance.

Anxiety and Sleep Quality in Healthcare Professionals During the Covid-19 Pandemic Process

ABSTRACT Objective: In this study it was aimed to investigate the coronavirus anxiety and sleep quality in healthcare workers during the pandemic period. Methods: This study was planned as cross-sectional and prospective type and it was carried out between February- April 2021 in a tertiary hospital. By online survey method Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) and a questionnaire created by the researchers were used for collecting the data. Results: A total of 291 healthcare professionals, participated in the study. The mean PSQI score of patients who were detected to have coronavirus anxiety was found to be significantly higher than patients without coronavirus anxiety (p=0,005). Men's average sleep duration was found to be higher than women's (p=0,002). The mean sleep latency score was found to be higher in singles than in married people (p

Sleep disturbances in nurse managers during the early and late stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

Working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic have affected health professionals' quality of sleep. To date, most of the studies that assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep have been carried out with front-line health personnel, and almost none of them have been carried out with managers.

Objective

To evaluate the quality of sleep and the level of stress in nurse managers during the early and late stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Cross-sectional studies were carried out at two time points: after the lockdown period (July 2020) and a year and a half after the start of the pandemic (October 2021). A total of 102 nurse managers of a tertiary hospital were invited to participate. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered to assess stress levels and sleep quality.

Results

The response rate was 85.2% in 2020 and 81.3% in 2021. Nursing managers showed alterations in sleep quality throughout the pandemic: 70.1% after confinement and 61.4% at the beginning of the second wave. In addition to stress, the fear of contagion by COVID-19 influenced sleep problems. More than a year after the start of the pandemic, the professionals' fear of contagion decreased. Perceived stress also decreased, but sleep disturbances remained.

Conclusion

High stress and poor sleep quality among nurse managers require special attention, and specific interventions need to be implemented. Hospitals should develop programs that help nurse managers develop skills to mitigate stress levels and thus improve sleep quality and professional quality of life.