Prevalence of psychological morbidities and their influential variables among nurses in a designated COVID-19 tertiary care hospital in India: A cross-sectional study

Background and Aim: Nurses are the main part of the health work force, performing their duties as frontline warriors against the novel coronavirus pandemic. Nurses involved in the care of infected (COVID-19) patients, may feel more discomfort physically, and experience greater psychological morbidities. The main aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and stress among nurses in a designated COVID-19 hospital and variables that influence these psychological problems. Materials and Methods: Nurses working in the designated tertiary care hospital were invited to participate in an online cross-sectional survey (dated, 5–15 September 2020). A total sample size of 236 was calculated. A self-administered questionnaire regarding sociodemographic characteristics, COVID-19-related experiences, perceived threat regarding COVID-19 and two scales (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 and Perceived Stress Scale-10) for assessment of anxiety, and stress was applied to nurses. Chi-square test and multiple regression analysis were used to investigate the predictors (risk and protective) of psychological morbidities in nurses. Results: On analysis of 209 participants, it was revealed that 65 (31.1%) participants have anxiety symptoms and 35.40% have moderate-to-high level of stress. Being proud of working in this profession was the only protective factor from such psychological morbidities. The identified risk factors for greater anxiety symptoms and moderate-to-high level stress were working experience of more than 10 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.36), direct involvement in care of suspected/diagnosed patients (OR = 3.4), feeling worried about being quarantined/isolated (OR = 1.69), and high risk of being infected at job (OR = 2.3 for anxiety and OR = 2.1 for moderate-to-high stress). Conclusions: Deteriorating psychic health of nurses is one of the major outcomes during COVID-19 pandemic in India which warrants the necessity of providing psychological support to all the nurses particularly those who are frontline workers and have working experience of more than 10 years and controlling the risk factors related to these problems