Promoting Mental Health of Nurses During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Will the Rapid Deployment of Nurses' Training Programs During COVID-19 Improve Self-Efficacy and Reduce Anxiety?

A Correlational Study on Professional Identity and Self-Efficacy Among Nursing Students

Aim To conduct a correlational study on professional identity and self-efficacy among nursing students Background Professional identity, in simple terms, refers to how one perceives oneself in relation to one's profession. Self-efficacy is defined as people's self-confidence in facing challenges and breaking through difficulties. A well-developed level of self-efficacy may enhance professional identity. This study sought to assess the professional identity and self-efficacy of student nurses enrolled at SRM College of Nursing, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, India, examine the relationship between professional identity and self-efficacy, and explore how self-efficacy and professional identity levels relate to demographic variables. Methodology A descriptive research design was utilized to assess the professional identity as well as the self-efficacy of 202 student nurses. The subjects were surveyed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale and Professional Identity Scale for Nursing Students questionnaires to analyze their levels of self-efficacy and professional identity, respectively. Result The results indicate that among the 202 students surveyed, 102 (50.5%) possess a moderate level of self-efficacy, and 71 (35.1%) possess a moderate level of professional identity. A strong positive correlation was found between professional identity and self-efficacy (r=0.489), implying that the student nurses with a prominent degree of self-efficacy have a compelling degree of professional identity and vice-versa. Conclusion In this investigation, most of the students demonstrated moderate levels of self-efficacy as well as professional identity. Additionally, a robust correlation was observed between self-efficacy and professional identity.

A systematic review on the relationship between socioeconomic conditions and emotional disorder symptoms during Covid-19: unearthing the potential role of economic concerns and financial strain

BACKGROUND

Covid-19 has disrupted the lives of many and resulted in high prevalence rates of mental disorders. Despite a vast amount of research into the social determinants of mental health during Covid-19, little is known about whether the results are consistent with the social gradient in mental health. Here we report a systematic review of studies that investigated how socioeconomic condition (SEC)-a multifaceted construct that measures a person's socioeconomic standing in society, using indicators such as education and income, predicts emotional health (depression and anxiety) risk during the pandemic. Furthermore, we examined which classes of SEC indicators would best predict symptoms of emotional disorders.

METHODS

Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted search over six databases, including Scopus, PubMed, etc., between November 4, 2021 and November 11, 2021 for studies that investigated how SEC indicators predict emotional health risks during Covid-19, after obtaining approval from PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021288508). Using Covidence as the platform, 362 articles (324 cross-sectional/repeated cross-sectional and 38 longitudinal) were included in this review according to the eligibility criteria. We categorized SEC indicators into 'actual versus perceived' and 'static versus fluid' classes to explore their differential effects on emotional health.

RESULTS

Out of the 1479 SEC indicators used in these 362 studies, our results showed that 43.68% of the SEC indicators showed 'expected' results (i.e., higher SEC predicting better emotional health outcomes); 51.86% reported non-significant results and 4.46% reported the reverse. Economic concerns (67.16% expected results) and financial strains (64.16%) emerged as the best predictors while education (26.85%) and living conditions (30.14%) were the worst.

CONCLUSIONS

This review summarizes how different SEC indicators influenced emotional health risks across 98 countries, with a total of 5,677,007 participants, ranging from high to low-income countries. Our findings showed that not all SEC indicators were strongly predictive of emotional health risks. In fact, over half of the SEC indicators studied showed a null effect. We found that perceived and fluid SEC indicators, particularly economic concerns and financial strain could best predict depressive and anxiety symptoms. These findings have implications for policymakers to further understand how different SEC classes affect mental health during a pandemic in order to tackle associated social issues effectively.

Burnout among Nurses: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Global Publications

Objective

To investigate the current situation, trending subjects, and future directions in the field of burnout among nurses, and to serve as a resource for researchers conducting related research.

Methods

The bibliometric analysis was carried out using R package "bibliometrix", bibliometric online analysis platform (https://bibliometric.com/) and VOSviewer (1.6.18).

Results

The leading countries that had a significant impact on this field were the USA and China. University of Pennsylvania was the most influential institution. Journal of Nursing Management was the top productive journal. Critical care, oncology care, acute care, and infectious disease care were more likely to lead to symptoms of burnout among nurses. "Mental health", "job satisfaction", "stress", and "COVID-19" were the current hot topics in this field.

Conclusion

Our study not only provides a thorough outline to assist researchers in understanding the leading countries, institutions, journals, and potential collaborators, but it also examines the current and upcoming trends in this field and inspires researchers to select research directions.

Anxiety prevalence and associated factors among frontline nurses following the COVID-19 pandemic: a large-scale cross-sectional study

Introduction

Nurses are more likely to experience anxiety following the coronavirus 2019 epidemic. Anxiety could compromise nurses' work efficiency and diminish their professional commitment. This study aims to investigate nurses' anxiety prevalence and related factors following the pandemic in multiple hospitals across China.

Methods

An online survey was conducted from April 16 to July 3, 2023, targeting frontline nurses who had actively participated in China. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors linked with anxiety.

Results

A total of 2,210 frontline nurses participated in the study. Overall, 65.07% of participants displayed clinically significant anxiety symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that nurses living with their families [2.52(95% CI: 1.68-3.77)] and those with higher SDS scores [1.26(95% CI: 1.24-1.29)] faced an elevated risk of anxiety. Conversely, female nurses [0.02(95% CI: 0.00-0.90)] and those who had recovered from infection [0.05(95%CI: 0.07-0.18)] demonstrated lower rates of anxiety.

Discussion

This study highlights the association between SDS score, gender, virus infection, living arrangements and anxiety. Frontline nurses need to be provided with emotional support to prevent anxiety. These insights can guide interventions to protect the mental well-being of frontline nurses in the post-pandemic period.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Nursing Practice: Lessons Learned and Future Trends

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly impacted healthcare givers, especially nurses, who were at the forefront of the crisis. It highlighted the importance of preparedness, adaptability, and technology in healthcare systems. Nurses faced challenges like personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, high patient numbers, and evolving protocols, emphasizing the need for robust plans and flexible infrastructures. Telehealth became crucial, ensuring care continuity and access, particularly for underserved groups. Mental health support for nurses became vital due to extreme stress and pressure. The pandemic also emphasized ongoing education and upskilling in nursing and highlighted the role of AI in healthcare solutions. Interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals gained importance, shaping a more holistic approach to patient care. This editorial highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nursing profession, highlighting the crucial significance of being well-prepared, adaptable, technologically advanced, and collaborative in order to ensure a more robust healthcare system in the future.

Perception and Mental Health Status Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination Among Taiwanese Adolescents and Their Caregivers

Background

Vaccinating adolescents is a vital strategy to enhance population protection without imposing overly restrictive measures on our daily lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. As teenagers gain more independence, their willingness to get vaccinated may depend on their own understanding of the pandemic, vaccines, and mental well-being, as well as that of their caregivers. Our study aimed to examine how Taiwanese adolescents and their caregivers perceive COVID-19 vaccination and assess their mental health status.

Methods

We invited a total of 138 vaccinated adolescents and their caregivers to complete several questionnaires, including the Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Scale (DrVac-COVID19S), Impact of Event Scale (IES), and Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ).

Results

Among the adolescents, 76.8% considered the BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) as the ideal option for COVID-19 vaccination, while 27.5% of caregivers expressed acceptance of any available vaccine. Adolescents scored higher than caregivers in terms of vaccine value (p<0.001) and autonomy (p<0.001), but lower in knowledge (p<0.001), as assessed by the DrVac-COVID19S subscales. The adolescents' intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (DrVac-COVID19S total score) showed a positive correlation with their perception of the pandemic's impact (IES scores, r=0.214, p=0.012) and their caregivers' vaccination intention (r=0.371, p<0.001). Furthermore, adolescents' mental health demonstrated a positive association with the mental health of their caregiver (CHQ total scores, r=0.481, p<0.001).

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 outbreak, caregivers have encountered heightened levels of mental stress, and this stress has been found to be positively correlated with the mental stress experienced by adolescents and their intentions regarding vaccination. These findings can serve as crucial references for healthcare providers and governments when formulating vaccination policies for adolescents in the future.

Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in India: A Mixed-methods Systematic Review

Healthcare workers (HCWs) experienced significant mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review aimed to comprehensively assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of HCWs in India. We conducted a mixed-methods systematic review, which adopts a results-based convergent approach that incorporates quantitative and qualitative data. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in relevant databases: PubMed-Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, and ProQuest. All available full-text studies in the English language that assessed the mental health outcomes (anxiety, stress, and depression) of HCWs during the pandemic and published until 28 February 2022 were included. A total of 31 studies were included in this review (27 quantitative studies, three qualitative studies, and one mixed-method study). The pooled prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among HCWs in India was 32.96%, 29.49%, and 33.47%, respectively. Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings using social determinants of health framework resulted in various contributing factors and coping strategies. There is a need for a supportive work environment, mental health support, and mental health policies for HCWs in India.

The Mediating Role of Emotion Management, Self-Efficacy and Emotional Intelligence in Clinical Nurses Related to Negative Psychology and Burnout

Objective

To explore the influence of negative psychology and burnout in clinical nurses, and to analyse the mediating role between self-efficacy and emotional intelligence in emotion management.

Methods

From January 2022 to December 2022, 12,704 clinical nurses from 32 general hospitals in Hunan Province were selected as research participants by convenience sampling. Negative psychology, emotion management, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence and burnout in clinical nurses were measured, and structural equation models were constructed to explore their impact on burnout in clinical nurses.

Results

Clinical nurses' negative psychology had a positive effect on burnout (β=0.60, 95% CI: 0.63-0.66), emotional intelligence (β=-0.08, 95% CI: -0.10, -0.06) and the self-efficacy of emotion management (β=-0.60, 95% CI: -0.05, -0.03) on burnout. Moreover, emotional intelligence and emotion management self-efficacy played a mediating role between negative psychology and burnout in nurses.

Conclusion

Clinical nurses' negative psychology had a positive impact on burnout, and emotional intelligence and the self-efficacy of emotion management could alleviate the influence of negative psychology on burnout among nurses. Nurses' emotional intelligence and emotion management self-efficacy can be improved through practical training to help them cope with emotionally loaded situations and reduce stress responses.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Underlying Occupational Stress and Depression Among Clinical Nurses in Secondary and Tertiary Hospitals of China During COVID-19 Setting

Aim

This study was designed to develop an effective measurement tool for occupational stress among medical staff and to identify the underlying risk factors among clinical nurses in China under depression during and after COVID-19.

Methods

In the first stage, an occupational stress scale was developed for medical staff based on qualitative and quantitative methods. The dimensions of the scale were based on childhood stress and seven other parameters of working stress. In the second stage, a provincial survey was conducted among clinical nurses in Hainan. The structure of Medical Staff Occupational Stress Scale was tested in secondary and tertiary hospitals. The socio-demographic information, occupational stress (measured using the developed scale), and current depression symptoms (assessed with the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire) were evaluated. The risk factors for occupational stress-induced depression were tested using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

The Medical Staff Occupational Stress Scale consisted of 42 items under eight dimensions with strong reliability and validity. Almost 80% of the clinical nurses reported obvious symptoms of depression. Based on multivariate logistical regression analysis, the significant risk factors for depression in nurses at secondary hospitals and tertiary hospitals were childhood stress, teaching stress, relationship with patient stress, and administration stress.

Conclusion

The Medical Staff Occupational Stress Scale utilized in nursing population is based on strong psychometric features. Childhood stress contributes to occupational stress in nurses. The selection of nurses for clinical work may require evaluation of past history for childhood stress to prevent occupational depression. Teaching stress, relationship with patient stress and administration stress play significant roles in the prevention of depression among clinical nurses.

Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Education for Caring Patients with COVID-19

PURPOSE

The role of medical staff gained immense significance in the context of the prolonged coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. However, few studies had explored the impact of simulation-based education on the ability of nursing students to care for the patients of COVID-19. This study provided nursing students with simulation-based education in caring for the patients of COVID-19 and confirmed its effectiveness.

METHODS

This study used a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were recruited from the nursing departments of two universities in Korea through convenience sampling. A total of 79 participants were included: 37 in the intervention group and 42 in the control group. The intervention group received four sessions of simulation training based on the National League for Nursing Jeffries simulation theory.

RESULTS

The intervention group showed an improvement compared to the control group in terms of knowledge related to coronavirus, confidence in performing infection control skills, and perception of preparedness for caring for the patients of COVID-19, with a high-level of satisfaction and self-confidence in learning. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of anxiety.

CONCLUSION

This simulation is expected to be a significant strategy for alleviating the global burden in terms of staff safety and patient outcomes by improving the competencies of prospective medical staff in responding to pandemics.

Psychological distress and coping styles among baccalaureate nursing students: Promoting mental health of future nurses in COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causes significant psychological distress among nursing students. College-bound nursing students might have preferred different types of coping strategies to deal with psychological distress. This study aims to measure the psychological distress and role of coping styles to mediate the stress level among the baccalaureate nursing students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in December 2020 at a nursing college attached to a tertiary care teaching hospital, North India. Nearly 251 baccalaureate nursing students completed the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE) scale to report their psychological distress and coping styles, respectively. Chi-square test, independent sample t-test followed by binary and multivariable regression were used to identify the factors associated with distress in students during the pandemic.

RESULTS

Students' mean age was 22.22 ± 1.24 years. The mean IES-R was 19.59 ± 12.45 in nursing students. Psychological distress found a significant association with age (P = 0.022), academic class (P = 0.016), travel history (P = 0.034), and being positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for COVID-19 status of self (P = 0.018) and family members in the medical profession (P = 0.013). In binary logistic regression, stress level found a significant association with first-year academic level (OR: 3.250, 95% CI: 1.429-7.390, P = 0.005) and family members in the medical profession (OR: 4.44, 95% CI: 1.019-19.382, P = 0.047). Adaptive coping styles were more frequently preferred than maladaptive coping styles (54% vs 41%). Adaptive (r = 0.295, P < 0.001) and maladaptive coping (r = 0.403, P < 0.001) shows a significant positive relationship with stress in students, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronavirus pandemic causes significant distress among nursing students. Students were able to manage stress using acceptance and religious/spiritual coping strategies. During the pandemic, stress management to support mental health is highly recommended.

Pandemic Fatigue in Nursing Undergraduates: Role of Individual Resilience and Coping Styles in Health Promotion

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic was soon declared a global health threat and had significant economic and health implications. Unprecedented government measures brought massive shifts in teaching-learning pedagogy in nursing to curb the infection. The study was conducted to explore the predictors of pandemic fatigue among nursing undergraduates and mediating role of individual resilience and coping styles during the third wave in India.

Methods

This online survey included 256 undergraduate nursing students studying at Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in North India. Lockdown/Pandemic Fatigue Questionnaire, Brief Resilience Scale, and Coping Behavior Questionnaire were used to collect the information. Appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to compute the results.

Results

Nursing undergraduates reported a moderate level of fatigue during the restrictions imposed at the time of the third wave. Students’ year of study (p = 0.001), tested positive during pandemic (p = 0.003), and post-COVID-19 hospitalization (p = 0.026) were found associated with higher fatigue status. Advanced age (p = 0.046) and higher personal resilience status (p &lt; 0.001) were associated with lower fatigue levels. Resilience status (ß = − 4.311 p &lt; 0.001) and second year of study (ß = 3.198, p = 0.015) were reported as independent predictors of pandemic fatigue in students.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that lockdown-related fatigue was common in nursing undergraduates. Considering negative consequences on mental health, routine psychosocial screening of the nursing students should be conducted. Recommending stress-relieving measures should be enforced to help nursing undergraduates to combat lockdown-induced exhaustion.

Qualitative Research on the Training Experiences and Needs of Intensive Care Unit General Nurses Against the Background of Regular Coronavirus Disease 2019 Prevention and Control

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the training experiences and needs of intensive care unit (ICU) general nurses against a background of regular Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prevention and control.

Methods

Using the phenomenological method of qualitative research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 ICU nurses. The interview data were analyzed, sorted, summarized, and refined using the content analysis method.

Results

The following five themes were extracted from the interviews, based on the training experiences of the nurses: 1) broadening their thinking; 2) discovering their personal shortcomings; 3) gaining self-confidence; 4) calmly facing frontline work; 5) experiencing high assessment pressure. The training needs of the nurses could be summarized into the following four themes: 1) increased training time; 2) improving the assessment mechanism; 3) establishing a normal rotating-shift training system; 4) balancing the teaching levels.

Conclusion

Against a background of regular epidemic prevention and control, ICU training for general nurses is of high practical significance and value. Thus, active exploration and research should be conducted to establish perfect training and assessment mechanisms for these nurses. Additionally, training methods that are suitable for clinical needs should be formulated and training systematization and standardization must be promoted.

Development of a training programme for professional nurses in South Africa - An educational response to the COVID-19 pandemic

AIM

This paper describes the development of the training programme for South African professional nurses on how to manage critically ill COVID-19 patients in intensive care units and repurposed general wards.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation educational instructional design model guided the development of the training programme. A case-based study approach and blended learning were used to deliver the six modules.

RESULTS

The training programme was developed, reviewed and validated by the coordinating team of facilitators involved in the initiative. Implementation of the training programme and the result thereof will not be discussed as part of this manuscript.

CONCLUSION

The training programme aimed to enhance the knowledge of professional nurses in the management of critically ill patients with COVID-19. As the pandemic evolves, a need for training and ongoing support was identified, which might address the need for surge capacity and hospital readiness planning.