School of Nursing, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre.
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 Jun 30;13(1):e1-e6. doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.2823.
Psychological well-being of nurses is crucial for them to effectively discharge their duties. However, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related anxiety can interfere with nurses' performance and reduce their self-efficacy.
The primary aim of this study was to assess COVID-19-related anxiety and functional impairment amongst nurses in Malawi. The secondary aim of the study was to determine reliability and validity of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale.
The study was conducted in Malawi.
This was a cross-sectional study that collected quantitative data from 102 nurses in Malawi online. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and receiver operating curve analysis.
This study found that 25.5% (26) of respondents had COVID-19-related anxiety and 48% (49) functional impairment. There were significant differences in the numbers of respondents who had functional impairment in relation to workplace (Χ2 = 8.7, p = 0.03), with many of those working in hospitals (58.6%, n = 34) having highest levels (mean = 20.6 ± 10.4). The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale proved to be an effective instrument (Sensitivity = 73.1%; Specificity = 60.5%; area under the curve = 0.73) for assessing COVID-19-related anxiety amongst nurses.
It is necessary to screen nurses for COVID-19-related anxiety and functional impairment and provide them effective psychosocial interventions. Policymakers should place more emphasis on allocation of financial resources to mental health services and staff support programmes targeting nurses during pandemics. There is a need to conduct future research on mental health interventions that might be used to assist nurses with COVID-19-related anxiety and functional impairment.
护士的心理健康对于他们有效地履行职责至关重要。然而，与 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）相关的焦虑会干扰护士的表现并降低他们的自我效能感。
本研究的主要目的是评估马拉维护士的 COVID-19 相关焦虑和功能障碍。本研究的次要目的是确定冠状病毒焦虑量表的信度和效度。
该研究在马拉维进行。
这是一项横断面研究，通过在线方式从马拉维的 102 名护士收集定量数据。使用描述性统计和受试者工作特征曲线分析来分析数据。
本研究发现，25.5%（26）的受访者有 COVID-19 相关焦虑，48%（49）有功能障碍。在与工作场所相关的功能障碍人数方面存在显著差异（Χ2 = 8.7，p = 0.03），其中许多在医院工作的人（58.6%，n = 34）的水平最高（均值 = 20.6 ± 10.4）。冠状病毒焦虑量表被证明是评估护士 COVID-19 相关焦虑的有效工具（敏感性 = 73.1%；特异性 = 60.5%；曲线下面积 = 0.73）。
有必要对护士进行 COVID-19 相关焦虑和功能障碍筛查，并为他们提供有效的社会心理干预措施。政策制定者应更加重视在大流行期间为精神卫生服务和针对护士的员工支持计划分配财政资源。需要对可能用于帮助护士应对 COVID-19 相关焦虑和功能障碍的心理健康干预措施进行进一步研究。
