Nursing Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.
Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences - Health and Workforce Studies Research Group, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Nurs Forum. 2022 Nov;57(6):1314-1320. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12808. Epub 2022 Oct 9.
Nurses make up the majority of the healthcare workforce. They contribute to the development of healthcare systems and the provision of high-quality, effective, and patient-centered healthcare services. However, nurses need good mental and emotional well-being to provide adequate care and the necessary physical and mental health support for their clients. This study aimed to determine the level of generalized psychological distress among nurses in the United Arab Emirates. As this study was initiated before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we were able to compare data gathered before and during the pandemic.
This study used a cross-sectional correlational design. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was used to measure generalized psychological distress. Nurses' distress levels were measured and compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In total, 988 participants completed the questionnaire. The majority (n = 629, 63.7%) were employed in hospitals and the remainder worked in primary healthcare settings (n = 359, 36.3%). The mean distress score was 27.1 ± 13.7; 42.1% (n = 416) of participants had a severe level of distress, and only 36.4% (n = 360) reported no distress. More participants had severe stress levels before COVID-19 (59.5%, n = 386) compared with during COVID-19 (10.9%, n = 30).
Participants' K10 scores suggest that nurses experience significant distress, which may compromise their ability to care for their clients. This study emphasizes the importance of supporting nurses as a preliminary step to improving patient care. Despite the pressure of working during the COVID-19 pandemic, participants' general distress scores were lower during than before the pandemic. Organizational, governmental, and global support and appreciation may have contributed to relieving the distress nurses experienced. This may be a useful ongoing approach for enhancing healthcare systems.
护士构成了医疗保健劳动力的大多数。他们为医疗保健系统的发展以及提供高质量、有效和以患者为中心的医疗保健服务做出了贡献。然而，护士需要良好的心理和情绪健康，才能为他们的客户提供足够的护理以及必要的身心健康支持。本研究旨在确定阿联酋护士的普遍心理困扰程度。由于本研究是在冠状病毒病 2019（COVID-19）大流行之前启动的，因此我们能够比较大流行前后收集的数据。
本研究采用横断面相关性设计。使用 Kessler 心理困扰量表（K10）来衡量普遍的心理困扰。测量并比较了 COVID-19 大流行前后护士的困扰程度。
共有 988 名参与者完成了问卷。大多数（n=629，63.7%）在医院工作，其余的在初级保健机构工作（n=359，36.3%）。平均困扰得分为 27.1±13.7；42.1%（n=416）的参与者有严重的困扰程度，只有 36.4%（n=360）报告没有困扰。与 COVID-19 之前相比，更多的参与者在 COVID-19 期间有严重的压力水平（59.5%，n=386），而只有 10.9%（n=30）的参与者报告没有压力。
参与者的 K10 得分表明，护士经历了显著的困扰，这可能会影响他们照顾患者的能力。本研究强调了支持护士的重要性，这是改善患者护理的初步步骤。尽管在 COVID-19 大流行期间工作压力很大，但与大流行前相比，参与者的总体困扰得分在大流行期间较低。组织、政府和全球的支持和赞赏可能有助于缓解护士所经历的困扰。这可能是增强医疗保健系统的一种有用的持续方法。
