[Exploring the Stress, Psychological Distress, and Stress-relief Strategies of Taiwan Nursing Staffs Facing the Global Outbreak of COVID-19]

Work-related flow and its correlates among frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Ample evidence across non-healthcare fields highlights the role of work-related flow in enhancing resilience against work stress and work engagement. Understanding flow and its factors can support staff development and management.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the level of work-related flow and its associated factors among frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A cross-sectional multicenter study included 336 nurses caring for COVID-19 patients between March and April 2022. Cluster random sampling was used to select 9 nurse groups from 29 Taiwanese hospitals specialized in COVID-19 care. A web survey link was shared on the selected nurses' social media. Hierarchical regression analyses examined predictor-outcome relationships, following the STROBE checklist for reporting findings.

RESULTS

Among demographic characteristics, sex (β = -0.11; p = 0.016) and living arrangement (β = -0.12; p = 0.017) reached statistical significance in model 3. Social support from family, friends, and significant others, managerial position, and sufficiency of personal protective equipment showed significant associations with work-related flow (all β > 0.12; p < 0.05). The variables included in the final model accounted for 35% of the variance in work-related flow for COVID-19 patient care tasks.

CONCLUSIONS

Flow experience is influenced by factors associated with demographics, work conditions, and social support. Nurse administrators should consider these factors when evaluating nurses' flow at work.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE AND MANAGEMENT

Allocating care tasks to nurses based on their flow levels can be beneficial, particularly during healthcare crises. Ensuring a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment and offering social support to nurses are vital strategies for facilitating their flow experience in the workplace.

An Exploratory Study of Nurses' Feelings about COVID-19 after Experiencing SARS

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 in Taiwan impacted Taiwanese society. However, the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan and spread around the world. During these outbreaks, nursing staff experienced different levels of pressure. Studies have explored the stress and adjustment of nurses during these periods, but studies describing the feelings of nurses during both SARS and COVID-19 outbreaks are lacking. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of nurses who had cared for both SARS and COVID-19 patients. A qualitative study combined with snowball sampling was applied. Semi-structured questions were used to interview 10 nurses who had experienced both SARS and COVID-19. Two themes and four sub-themes were analyzed, which were: facing the epidemic from the unknown to known; and the experiences from ignorance to proficiency. The sub-themes were: the feeling of frustration and concern; bottlenecks and pressures in my work; my mission and support; and positive energy and camaraderie. The results showed that the media acts as an important resource during disease outbreaks; therefore, government departments have to use their wisdom to make good use of the media. Secondly, understanding the general public's response to the disease is also important for first-line nurses. Finally, on-the-job education and guidelines for first-line nurses are necessary, and support from the administration is also important.

Relationship between nurses' resilience and depression, anxiety and stress during the 2021 COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan

AIM

The COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan had a significant impact on medical services. These changes posed a threat to nurses' mental health. Resilience may protect nurses from the psychological impact of COVID-19. This study aimed to understand nurses' resilience and its relationship with nurses' characteristics (life and work situations) and mental health (depression, anxiety and stress) during the outbreak.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This study surveyed the nurses at a hospital from 9 August 2021, to 20 August 2021. The content of the questionnaire included nurses' characteristics, resilience and mental health.

RESULTS

There was an association between higher resilience and lower mental health problems. We also found that some nurses' characteristics were positively correlated with mental health problems.

CONCLUSION

Some nurses' life and work situations predicted high levels of mental health problems during the pandemic. Additionally, higher levels of resilience were associated with lower levels of mental health problems.

Burnout and Health Issues among Prehospital Personnel in Taiwan Fire Departments during a Sudden Spike in Community COVID-19 Cases: A Cross-Sectional Study

A spike in COVID-19 cases in Taiwan’s communities caused a significant increase in workload and infection concerns among prehospital personnel working in Taiwan fire departments. The present study was aimed at investigating their health status during this period. The target population was prehospital personnel who are from Taiwan fire departments, and who responded to COVID-19 patients during the community outbreak period. A questionnaire was employed to assess their physical and mental health status. The results showed that prehospital personnel suffered from moderate to severe degrees of burnout. Workload, body burden, and perceived pressure increased significantly during this period. Participants received more support from friends, family, and colleagues than they did from authorities. The paramedics reported higher scores for personal burnout than the emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Compared to non-COVID-19 response units, special COVID-19 response units reported higher scores for workload, body burden, and supportive environment. The results suggested that personal and work-related burnout were associated with higher perceived pressure. This study is the first investigation of physical and mental health burdens among prehospital personnel in Taiwan fire departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The physical and mental health status of these personnel should be continuously monitored, and intervention provided as necessary.

Mental Health Consequences for Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review to Draw Lessons for LMICs

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This scoping review provides a summary of current evidence on the mental health consequences of COVID on HCWs. Methods: A scoping review was conducted searching PubMed and Embase for articles relevant to mental health conditions among HCWs during COVID-19. Relevant articles were screened and extracted to summarize key outcomes and findings. Results: A total of fifty-one studies were included in this review. Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, psychological trauma, insomnia and sleep quality, workplace burnout and fatigue, and distress were the main outcomes reviewed. Most studies found a high number of symptoms endorsed for depression, anxiety, and other conditions. We found differences in symptoms by sex, age, and HCW role, with female, younger-aged, frontline workers, and non-physician workers being affected more than other subgroups. Conclusion: This review highlights the existing burden of mental health conditions reported by HCWs during COVID-19. It also demonstrates emerging disparities among affected HCW subgroups. This scoping review emphasizes the importance of generating high quality evidence and developing informed interventions for HCW mental health with a focus on LMICs.