Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Anxiety, stress and depression levels among nurses of educational hospitals in Iran: Time of performing nursing care for suspected and confirmed COVID‑19 patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Hojjat Sheikhbardsiri
. Mohammad Mahdi Doustmohammadi1 1
. Parya Jangipour Afshar 2
. Majid Heidarijamebozorgi 3
. Hamidreza Khankeh 4
. Mehdi Beyramijam 5

1 Health in Disasters and Emergencies Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Student of Epidemiology, Department of Biostatics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Department of Public Health, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran

4 Department of Clinical Science and Education Karolinska Instituted, Stockholm, Sweden

5 Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Following the global emergency of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19),
health‑care workers, especially nurses were encountered with an increasing workload. Therefore, due
to the importance of this issue, the present study aimed to examine stress, anxiety, and depression
levels among nurses during the COVID‑19 pandemic in Iran.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross‑sectional study was conducted in four educational hospitals
affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2020. The standard Depression, Anxiety and
Stress Scale‑21 questionnaire was applied to assess the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression
in nurse personnel with a census method (n = 403). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics
and analytic statistics such as Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis, and multiple
linear regression tests through the version 20, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA, Software at the level
of P < 0.05.
RESULTS: The results of the study showed that the mean scores of depressions (9.18 ± 4.45),
stress (9.62 ± 4.94), and anxiety (10.32 ± 4.85) in nurses were at moderate level. A significant
relationship was observed between stressed, anxious, and depressed participants in the gender,
marital status, level of education, and working hours per month. No statistically significant relationship
was found between other demographic variables including age, work experience, and employment
status with anxiety, depression, and stress categories.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study can increase the awareness of health system managers,
especially hospitals, about the level of stress, anxiety, and depression and can help in order to provide
psychological support programs for improving the mental health of nurses during the COVID‑19
pandemic.

Keywords

Anxiety
coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
depression
nurse
stress
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 11
December 2021
Pages 1-6

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