Abstract
Mental health of frontline nurses, who are critical healthcare personnel, is essential to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the symptoms of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder of frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. This was a cross-sectional online survey using the Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Perceived Stress Scale, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised from November 2020 to February 2021. The subjects were 249 nurses with work experience of at least one month at the frontline of the COVID-19 response. 39.4% of the participants had a higher than moderate level (≥10) of depression, 49.7% had a higher than mild level (≥5) of anxiety, and 40.1% were above the threshold of partial PTSD (≥18). The influencing factors of PTSD were depression, anxiety, COVID-19-related work period, and skipping meals, and their explanatory power was 60% (F=54.26, p<.001). Mental health of frontline nurses in clinical fields of COVID-19 screening/treatment need to be monitored and managed. In that regard, mental health programs and policies should be developed and legally guaranteed.
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