Abstract
Background and aims: Emerging infectious diseases, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), are among the most serious occupational hazards for healthcare providers. The aim of the present study was to assess anxiety level among nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2020. Participants were 510 nursing staff selected through a census from Valiasr teaching hospital, Fasa, Iran. Data were collected via a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-made COVID-19 anxiety questionnaire and were analyzed using the SPSS software (v. 22.0) through the chi square and ANOVA test. Results: The total mean score of anxiety among participants was 93.10±7.06 and had significant relationship with participants’ age, work experience, affiliated ward, and educational level (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Nursing staff suffer from high levels of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare authorities and managers need to employ strategies to psychologically support and empower nursing staff, improve their stress management skills, ensure their occupational safety, and improve their knowledge about COVID-19.
Highlights
Emerging diseases are infectious diseases that appear for the first time in one area, population, or the whole world, or have already existed but become more severe or drug resistant, or rapidly spread to other geographical areas [1,2]
A total of 670 nursing staff were invited to the study and 510 of them completely answered the study instruments
Findings showed that the mean score of anxiety among nursing staff was 93.10±7.06, which implies high anxiety level
Summary
Emerging diseases are infectious diseases that appear for the first time in one area, population, or the whole world, or have already existed but become more severe or drug resistant, or rapidly spread to other geographical areas [1,2]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are currently over thirty emerging diseases with various types and levels of severity in the world [3]. COVID-19 has so far affected more than 5.74 million people and caused more than 123000 deaths in Iran [6]. Emerging infectious diseases, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), are among the most serious occupational hazards for healthcare providers. The aim of the present study was to assess anxiety level among nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Nursing staff suffer from high levels of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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