Anxiety levels and solution‐focused thinking skills of nurses and midwives working in primary care during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A descriptive correlational study

Abstract

AimsTo determine the state–trait anxiety levels and solution‐focused thinking skills of primary care nurses/midwives during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and to evaluate the factors affecting these variables and the determinants of state–trait anxiety levels.BackgroundThe COVID‐19 outbreak has created intense anxiety in nurses/midwives that may affect the care they provide. Nurses and midwives may manage anxiety using solution‐focused thinking skills.MethodsThis descriptive correlational study included 170 nurses/midwives at 61 family health centres evaluated from 1 August to 14 September 2020.ResultsThe participants' state and trait anxiety scores were above average, indicating a moderate level of anxiety and the mean total solution‐focused inventory scores were at a moderate level. It was determined that 47.9% of the variance in state anxiety scores could be explained by trait anxiety, age, years of professional experience, chronic illness, type of work shift during the pandemic, follow‐up of patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 using computed tomography or a COVID‐19 test, and whether the institution was taking necessary measures against COVID‐19. There was a negative relationship between state anxiety and solution‐focused inventory total score.ConclusionNurses/midwives displayed a moderate level of anxiety and solution‐focused thinking skills during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Implications for Nursing ManagementSteps should be taken to improve nurses' solution‐focused thinking skills to enable them to organise quickly and manage care processes successfully in extraordinary circumstances such as pandemics. Moreover, personal empowerment programmes should be recommended for nurses and midwives to help them cope with anxiety.