Senevirathne C P, Senarathne L, Fernando M
Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
SAGE Open Nurs. 2024 Aug 9;10:23779608241272679. doi: 10.1177/23779608241272679. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.
The nursing profession is a cornerstone in the healthcare workforce. Yet, it remains vulnerable to severe mental health challenges, stemming from a complex interplay of social and occupational factors. It is evident that crisis situations have profound influence on the mental-wellbeing of nurses.
To explore the association between behavioural modification in response to the prevailing economic crisis and mental health outcomes of nurses from teaching hospitals, Sri Lanka.
This cross-sectional study was carried out among nursing professionals ( = 261) who are employed in distinct teaching hospitals ( = 7) in Sri Lanka. Considering the bed-capacity of each hospital, participants were purposively selected and invited to complete an online-based self-administered questionnaire to collect demographic characteristics and lifestyle modifications to deal with the economic crisis, while Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) a set of three self-reported scales to assess the level of depression, anxiety, and stress, was used. Data was analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 version, Descriptive analysis was performed to present frequencies of both demographic characteristics and lifestyle and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, while the Chi-square test was used to determine the association between selected independent variables and mental health outcomes. A multivariate regression model was performed to determine the predictors of mental health outcomes of the study participants.
There were a total of 261 participants, 86.2% were married, and 66.2% had children. The proportion of mild to extreme depression, anxiety, and stress were 58.2%, 65.9%, and 72.0% respectively. In response to the economic challenges, 91.6% of study participants reported reducing expenditures on general household needs, while the proportion of participants who curtailed spending on food, monthly savings, and entertainment were 75.9%, 79.3%, and 73.6% respectively. Notably, 81.6% of participants initiated the process of applying for overseas employment, and 50.6% pursued academic programs to be eligible for foreign placements.
The present study observed a higher level of depression, anxiety and stress among nurses from teaching hospitals in Sri Lanka. It was noted that nurses had taken steps to respond to financial strain by reducing essential elements of their routine. Additionally, study participants chose to seek foreign placements as a solution to the economic burden, as a result just over half of the respondents completed an academic program in order to be qualified for jobs abroad. Further, these initiatives are significantly associated with negative emotional disorders of the participants. Therefore, interventions should be implemented to promote positive mental health outcomes of nursing professionals in Sri Lanka.
护理行业是医疗保健劳动力队伍的基石。然而，由于社会和职业因素的复杂相互作用，它仍然容易受到严重心理健康挑战的影响。显然，危机情况对护士的心理健康有深远影响。
探讨应对当前经济危机的行为改变与斯里兰卡教学医院护士心理健康结果之间的关联。
本横断面研究在斯里兰卡不同教学医院（共7家）工作的护理专业人员（n = 261）中进行。根据每家医院的床位容量，有目的地选择参与者，并邀请他们完成一份基于网络的自填式问卷，以收集人口统计学特征和应对经济危机的生活方式改变情况，同时使用抑郁、焦虑和压力量表（DASS - 21），这是一组三个自我报告量表，用于评估抑郁、焦虑和压力水平。数据使用SPSS 23.0版本进行分析，进行描述性分析以呈现人口统计学特征、生活方式以及抑郁、焦虑和压力症状的频率，同时使用卡方检验来确定所选自变量与心理健康结果之间的关联。进行多元回归模型以确定研究参与者心理健康结果的预测因素。
共有261名参与者，86.2%已婚，66.2%有孩子。轻度至重度抑郁、焦虑和压力的比例分别为58.2%、65.9%和72.0%。为应对经济挑战，91.6%的研究参与者报告减少了一般家庭需求的支出，而减少食品支出、每月储蓄和娱乐支出的参与者比例分别为75.9%、79.3%和73.6%。值得注意的是，81.6%的参与者启动了申请海外就业的程序，50.6%攻读学术课程以符合国外工作安置条件。
本研究观察到斯里兰卡教学医院护士的抑郁、焦虑和压力水平较高。注意到护士已采取措施通过减少日常基本开支来应对经济压力。此外，研究参与者选择寻求国外工作安置作为解决经济负担的办法，结果超过一半的受访者完成了学术课程以便有资格获得国外工作。此外，这些举措与参与者的负面情绪障碍显著相关。因此，应实施干预措施以促进斯里兰卡护理专业人员的积极心理健康结果。
