The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Working Nurses at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Abstract

The psychological consequences of corona virus disease (COVID- 19) pandemic on health care professionals specially working nurses were serious due to their higher exposure. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of covid-19 pandemic on the mental health among working nurses. This institutional based cross sectional study was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheik Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from July 2020 to June 2021. A total of 120 nurses, working in different units of BSMMU Hospital were included. Data were collected by face-to-face interview. The depression, anxiety and stress scale- 21 (DASS- 21) was used to assess the psychological impact of COVID- 19 on nurses. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among working nurses was 25.8%, 44.2% and 64.1% respectively. Nurses working in the day shift duties, having no infection prevention training, lack of family support and excess work load were the factors significantly associated with depression (p<0.05). While contact with confirmed cases and unavailability of infection prevention training were the factors that significantly increase the risk of developing anxiety (p<0.05). On the other hand; lack of infection prevention training, excess work load and worries about bringing the virus at home were the factors significantly associated with developing stress among the nurses (p<0.05). This study concluded that the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among nurses working in COVID-19 pandemic was high. Severity of stress was higher than anxiety and depression. Different risk factors were significantly associated with developing these mental disorders.