Professional Quality of Life Among Physicians and Nurses Working in Portuguese Hospitals During the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Relationship between nurses' resilience and quality of professional life

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the resilience levels of nurses and qualit of their professional life.

BACKGROUND

Nurses' resilience level can affect their professional qualityof life. A higher resilience level enables them to manage stress and overcome challanges more effectively leading to enhanced patient care and satisfaction. Coversly, lower resiliance can lead to burnout, negatievly impacting both the nurses' wellbeing and the quality of service delivered to patients.

INTRODUCTION

It is crucial to understand the correlation between the professional life quality and resilience of nurses working in difficult conditions.

METHODS

This correlational study was conducted between September 2021 and February 2022. A total of 276 nurses were included in the study. Data were collected using the Demographic Data Form consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, the Professional Quality-of-Life Scale, and the Resilience Scale for Adults.

RESULTS

The resilience score was above average, and the professional quality of life was high. Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, which are components of professional quality of life, were moderate, and the burnout level was low. A robust positive correlation was observed between resilience and the professional quality of life. The linear regression model showed that choosing the profession unwillingly, dissatisfaction with the unit in which one works, and the level of psychological resilience are independent factors of professional quality of life.

CONCLUSION

According to the findings, high psychological resilience increases the quality of professional life. Resilience, choosing nursing willingly, and liking the unit in which one works are determinants of professional quality of life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY

Enhancing the professional quality of life of nurses has important individual, institutional, and social consequences. Enhancing resilience has the potential to elevate the quality of professional life. Hence, it is important to develop national and international policies and models. Additionally, managers bear significant responsibilities in ensuring a positive work environment. Undoubtedly, having nurses work in units they like, feel happy in, and prefer will increase their professional quality of life and make positive contributions to patient care, the institution, and society.

Navigating crisis: exploring the links between threat perceptions, well-being, individual and workplace resilience among general hospital staff

BACKGROUND

Hospital staff frequently encounter high-stress situations, emergencies, and disasters, which profoundly impact their well-being and resilience. The aim of the study was to examine associations between perceived threats, well-being, individual resilience, and resilience at work among staff of a general hospital, following the unexpected Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, and during the Israel-Gaza conflict.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted at a central Israeli public hospital, a level-two trauma center, surveying 434 staff members. Validated questionnaires were used to assess perceived threats, well-being, individual and work resilience, alongside demographic and professional characteristics. Data was collected via Qualtrics and paper questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, T-tests, ANOVA, Chi-square, and linear regression models were used to analyze relationships, differences, and key factors associated with well-being, personal resilience, and work resilience.

RESULTS

Key findings revealed that higher resilience at work and well-being are linked to greater individual resilience, while higher threat perception negatively affected well-being. Israeli-born individuals and those identifying as Jewish showed higher resilience. Men reported higher well-being than women, and physicians demonstrated higher well-being compared to nurses. Resilience at work was higher among administrative staff compared to nurses, with employment in the emergency department showing a significant negative relationship with resilience at work.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed significant predictors of well-being, individual resilience, and workplace resilience among hospital staff in conflict situations. The immediate threat of war was perceived as most significant, highlighting the dynamic nature of threat perceptions. Prolonged emergencies can severely impact well-being, necessitating timely support. The findings emphasize the importance of integrated programs that enhance individual well-being and foster resilience in both personal and professional domains. Significant gender differences and the positive role of religiosity in resilience underscore the need for targeted interventions and systemic organizational changes to better support healthcare workers during crises. These insights highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach for cultivating a robust and resilient medical staff capable of effectively managing future crises.

Caring through crisis: The professional quality of pediatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

PURPOSE

This study described pediatric nurses' professional quality of life during COVID-19 and explored demographic/clinical practice factors independently associated with compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS).

DESIGN AND METHODS

The Relational Caring Complexity Theory was used. This study employed a cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational design to describe professional quality of life of pediatric nurses (demographic questionnaire and ProQOL 5 measure) working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

From 150 pediatric nurses, the mean scores were CS 40.8 (± 4.8), BO 22.6 (± 4.7), and STS 22.8 (± 5.8). Results of the multiple regression revealed that two variables, deployed to the same unit versus not deployed (β = 2.424, p = .02) and currently practicing in perioperative/ambulation settings versus intensive care (β = -0.272, p = .03), were independently associated with CS. Deployed to the same unit versus not deployed was found to be independently and significantly associated with BO (β = -0.28, p = .005). The number of patients cared for with COVID-19 (β = 0.196, p = .03) was significantly associated with STS.

CONCLUSIONS

While the overall response was positive, these nurses were more likely to experience BO when deployed to the same area (likely a COVID-19 adult unit) and STS as they cared for more patients with COVID-19.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Leaders should be aware of the impact of caring in times of crisis. Decentralized staffing may help meet emergent needs on a particular shift, but ensuring deployed nurses are well-supported is vital.

Quality of life and quality of sleep in health professionals working in critical areas

Introduction

Emergency rooms and intensive care units in hospitals are physically and mentally stressful for health personnel and can negatively affect them.

Objectives

To evaluate and to compare the quality of life and quality of sleep of emergency room and intensive care unit personnel.

Methods

This is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted with 117 civil servants, including physicians, nurses, and licensed practical nurses. Sociodemographic questionnaires, the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument-Abbreviated version, the Pittsburgh Quality Sleep Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire were used.

Results

The quality of sleep in women was worse than in men. Physicians scored lower in the psychological domain of quality of life than nurses. When the group of physicians was stratified between clinicians and surgeons, clinicians scored better in the physical domain and worse in the social relations and overall quality of life domains.

Conclusions

The results showed that the psychological domain in nurses was less impaired than in physicians. Women also had poorer quality of sleep and were more likely to suffer from sleep disorders than men.

Perceived social support and professional quality of life of health professionals during COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the perceived social support and professional quality of life (ProQOL) among healthcare professionals during COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, encompassing both positive (compassion satisfaction) and negative (compassion fatigue) dimensions as well as the factors associated with them.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional web-based study.

SETTING

Nepal PARTICIPANTS: We carried out a convenience sampling technique to enrol 313 health professionals aged 18-60 years old.

OUTCOME MEASURES

We employed the ProQOL V.5 questionnaire (comparing 30 self-report items) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support with 12 items to assess the ProQOL and social support, respectively. A χ2 test was performed to determine associated factors of different dimensions of ProQOL.

RESULTS

The study included a total of 313 participants, mostly consisting of frontline health workers. More than one-third of the participants worked in places where precautionary measures were insufficient. However, the majority of them (73.8%) had high social support. Concerning the ProQOL, the percentage of health professionals that had moderate compassion satisfaction (CS), moderate Burnout (BO) and moderate secondary traumatic stress (STS) were 57.5%, 58.2% and 75.4%, respectively. Factors like sex, marital status, profession, work-shift, type of health institution and status of precautionary measures at the workplace were associated with the different dimensions of ProQOL at the significance level of 0.05.

CONCLUSION

This study findings revealed a considerable proportion of BO and STS among health professionals during COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. Implementation of appropriate interventions and support systems are needed to enhance CS, alleviate BO and mitigate STS among health professionals to combat future health emergencies.

Professional quality of life, resilience, posttraumatic stress and leisure activity among intensive care unit nurses

BACKGROUND

Nurses working in the intensive care unit (ICU) often experience posttraumatic stress due to being exposed to pain, death, disease and surrogate trauma. Thus, it is necessary to investigate ways to enhance their coping abilities and improve their professional quality of life.

AIM

This study explores factors related to professional quality of life, resilience and posttraumatic stress of ICU nurses and provides basic data for the development of psychological support programmes to address.

METHODS

The participants in this cross-sectional study consisted of 112 ICU nurses working at a general hospital in Seoul, Korea. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires on general characteristics, professional quality of life, resilience and posttraumatic stress and analysed using IBM SPSS for Windows version 25.

FINDINGS

Professional quality of life showed a significant positive correlation with nurses' resilience, whereas posttraumatic stress was significantly negatively correlated with professional quality of life. Among participants' general characteristics, leisure activity showed the strongest positive correlation with professional quality of life and resilience and a significant negative correlation with posttraumatic stress.

CONCLUSION

This study explored the correlations among resilience, posttraumatic stress and professional quality of life of ICU nurses. Further, we found that leisure activities are associated with their higher resilience and lower posttraumatic stress.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

Policy development and organisational supports are required to promote various club activities and stress reduction programmes for clinical nurses in order to increase their professional quality of life and resilience as well as prevent posttraumatic stress.

Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress among nurses after the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

Nurses frequently experience compassion fatigue and burnout, which impact their personal lives and patient care. The COVID-19 pandemic additionally caused stress, uncertainty, and fear of death among healthcare professionals.

Aim

To assess professional quality of life (ProQoL) among nurses after the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and Methods

A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 203 nurses using a purposive sampling technique in the month of September to December 2021. Data were collected using a self-administered ProQoL scale version 5.

Statistical Analysis

Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used. Bivariate correlations were used to correlate the main variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was also performed.

Results

The majority of the nurses reported a moderate level of compassion satisfaction (CS) (62.6%), burnout (BO) (66.0%), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) (63.1%). Residence and education emerged as a factor whether the nurses experienced BO or STS, respectively. Additionally, CS negatively correlated with BO (r = -0.732: P < 0.001) and STS (r = -0.141: p-0.04).

Conclusions

The majority of the nurses experienced moderate levels of CS, BO, and STS after the second wave of the COVID-19 crisis and nurse patient-ratio emerged as a significant factor to predict CS, BO, or STS. Hence, effective measures need to be implemented by hospital administration to enhance the nurses' satisfaction and reduce fatigue and burnout.

'Caring for the helpers': factors associated with professional quality of life among Hong Kong nurses during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Western studies have found that nurses are likely to experience both positive and negative emotions in their job, as a helping profession [professional quality of life (ProQoL)] during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and that psychosocial and work-related variables (e.g. pandemic-related stressors, interpersonal and organizational support, coping strategies) are associated with such outcomes. However, relevant studies on nurses in the Asian context are limited.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the psychosocial correlates of three indicators of ProQoL, i.e. compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress (STS), and burnout, among nurses during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong.

METHOD

Nurses in Hong Kong (N = 220) working in hospitals and community settings during the COVID-19 pandemic were recruited between 24 May and 27 June 2022 through nursing associations to complete an online survey measuring the aforementioned psychosocial variables.

RESULTS

Hierarchical regression results found that stressors from clinical work environments, insufficient emotional support, and less positive reframing were associated with poorer ProQoL (i.e. lower compassion satisfaction; higher STS and burnout) (β from 0.16, p > .05, to 0.44, p > .001). In addition, COVID-19-related worries/uncertainties and emotional processing were associated with higher STS (β from 0.21 to 0.23, p < .01), whereas insufficient organizational support for communication with the healthcare system was associated with higher burnout (β = 0.12, p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings identified the important psychosocial determinants in ProQoL among nurses in Hong Kong and provide recommendations for services supporting the mental health of these nurses. Providing workshops for nurses to train their skills in coping with COVID-19-related uncertainties, worries, and stressors from the clinical work environment, in using adaptive coping strategies (e.g. positive reframing), and in soliciting emotional support from important others could facilitate their ProQoL. Moreover, the provision of organizational support through timely and transparent communication with the healthcare system could reduce STS in nurses.

Exploring Shared Trauma in the Time of COVID: A Simulation-Based Survey Study of Mental Health Clinicians

From fear of contracting the virus, isolation from physical distancing, to navigating lifework balance, the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to leave long-lasting psychosocial impacts on many. Shared trauma refers to similar psychological reactions to an extraordinary community event when experienced by both the clinicians and clients. We examined the experiences mong mental health clinicians in Canada and the United States (n = 196) in this online survey study during the second phase of the pandemic (Spring 2021). In addition to using traditional survey items (e.g., demographics, scales, and short answers), we also used video-recorded Simulated Clients (SC; i.e., professional actors) as a novel method to elicit the participants' assessment of the SCs and the psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using shared trauma as a theoretical framework, we analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative results suggested that although these mental health clinicians certainly reported experiencing psychosocial impacts of the pandemic themselves, these shared experiences with client and general populations did not greatly impact how they understood the SCs. Qualitative results helped further contextualize the clinicians' own personal and professional lives. Implications for clinical practice and further research related to shared trauma are discussed.

Mental Health of Nurses Working in a Judicial Psychiatry Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: An Online Survey

The onset of this new pandemic has highlighted the numerous critical issues at the organizational level, which involve both national healthcare and the judicial system. For this reason, nurses working in prisons may exhibit a poor quality of life, mainly related to their high level of work stress. This cross-sectional survey aimed to assess the emotional state of nurses working in the Judicial Psychiatry Hospital of Barcellona PG (Messina, Italy) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection occurred twice: from 1 April to 20 May 2020 (i.e., during the Italian lockdown) and from 15 October to 31 December 2021 (during the second wave). At baseline, the 35 enrolled nurses presented medium to high levels of stress. At T1, they had a reduction in perceived personal achievement (MBI-PR p = 0.01), an increase in emotional exhaustion (MBI-EE p < 0.001), and stress (PSS p = 0.03), as well as anxiety (STAI Y1/Y2 p < 0.001). Most participants underlined the high usability of the online system (SUS: 69.50/SD 19.9). We also found increased stress, anxiety, and burnout risk in nursing staff. The study clearly demonstrates that the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy caused a worsening of mental health among nurses working in prisons. We believe that monitoring the mental state of healthcare professionals is fundamental to improving their quality of life and healthcare services.

Sleep quality status, anxiety, and depression status of nurses in infectious disease department

Objective

To investigate the current status of sleep quality and influencing factors of clinical nurses in infectious disease hospitals, and to provide basis and reference for improving their sleep status and providing psychological support.

Methods

Using convenience sampling method, clinical nurses from a tertiary hospital for infectious diseases were selected as the survey subjects in September 2021. General information questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire (PSQI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Depression Screening Scale (PHQ-9) were used for questionnaire surveys, and multiple linear regression was used to analyze the impact of decreased sleep quality in clinical nurses factor.

Results

A total of 460 questionnaires were returned, of which 442 were valid, effective rate is 96.09%. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score of 442 clinical nurses was 7.07 ± 2.14, of which 60 (13.57%) had sleep disorders; the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) score was 4.77 ± 3.50, of which 182 (41.18%) had varying degrees of anxiety; The score of PHQ-9 was 5.95 ± 3.79, of which 187 (42.31%) had different degrees of depressive symptoms. The stepwise multiple linear regression analysis which involved PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores showed that: both the PHQ-9 score and the GAD-7 score were positively correlated with the sleep quality score, and the PHQ-9 score increased every time 1 point, sleep quality score increased by 0.239 points; GAD-7 score increased by 1 point, sleep quality score increased by 0.150 points. The overall model test (F = 109.760, P < 0.001) regression model is meaningful.

Conclusion

Decreased sleep quality is common among clinical nurses in infectious disease hospitals, and the sleep status of nurses is positively correlated with anxiety and depression. Nursing managers pay attention to sleep quality of clinical nurses in infectious disease hospitals and carry out effective interventions to improve the sleep quality of nurses.

Fear of COVID-19 Impact on Professional Quality of Life among Mental Health Workers

Several studies have examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers' mental health, but only a few have investigated its detrimental effect on the mental well-being of mental health workers (MHWs).

BACKGROUND

The current study aimed to explore the effect of the fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19) on professional quality of life dimensions, namely compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) in MHWs above and beyond sociodemographic and professional factors.

METHODS

Hierarchical linear regression models were employed to examine the relationship of extreme FCV-19 with CS, BO, and STS in MHWs (n = 224), after considering sociodemographic variables as potential confounding factors. Extreme FCV-19 was operationalized as a binary variable with a cut-off score of ≥16.5 considered as extreme fear.

RESULTS

We found that extreme FCV-19 in MHWs is linked with increased compassion fatigue (BO and STS), and this relationship is exacerbated by younger age in regard to BO and by female gender concerning STS. CS remains unaffected by severe FCV-19, and it is higher in older participants.

CONCLUSION

Organizational support is required to protect MHWs' mental well-being and ensure the quality of care they provide during prolonged crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures that intensify a sense of safety, protection, and control against COVID-19 infections in mental health services should be included in the recommendations that may reduce BO and STS among MHWs.

Determination of Key Inflection Points for Maladaptive Responses in US Nurses During the Pandemic: A Network Analysis

Introduction

During the pandemic, the nursing workforce is experiencing overwhelming workloads that carry a heavy psychological burden. A wide variety of psychological responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have been studied in nurses globally, but many are not studied or understudied in US nurses. Theoretical underpinnings of the current study are based on the disaster component of the Middle-Range Theory of Nurses' Psychological Trauma.

Objective

To explore the associations of psychological responses (life satisfaction, perceived stress, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptomatology, attitude toward life, and compassion satisfaction), years of experience, and general health in US nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic using network analysis.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey from October to November 2020 in US nurses. Network analysis was used to model the data and analyze the centrality indices of betweenness, closeness, and strength. Data were reported according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist.

Results

In 128 nurses, 19.35% of nurses had probable PTSD. Network analysis showed strong significant correlations between life satisfaction and perceived stress (negative), between perceived stress and PTSD symptomatology (positive), and between attitude toward life and compassion satisfaction (positive).

Conclusion

Low life satisfaction, high perceived stress, and low attitude toward life are key inflection points that signal the need for psychological intervention in the US nursing workforce during the continued pandemic. Based on 2021 Tri-Council of Nursing COVID-19 Report and the 2022 International Council of Nurses guideline, healthcare should implement scalable, system-level interventions to reduce psychological burden during the pandemic. The current study suggests targets for such intervention, which may promote a healthier, more effective US nursing workforce.