Experiences of Nurses and Technicians during the Covid-19 Virus Pandemic Regarding to Coping Strategies and Perceived Social Support

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati razlike u doživljaju stresa s obzirom na demografske podatke te ispitati odnose između percipirane socijalne podrške, načina suočavanja sa stresom, doživljaja stresa i percipiranih tjelesnih simptoma. U online istraživanju sudjelovalo je 225 medicinskih sestara i tehničara (20 muških i 204 ženskih te 1 osoba koja se nije izjasnila o spolu) u rasponu dobi od 20 do 64 godine (M = 35.67 , SD = 11.61). Ispitanici su ispunjavali Upitnik demografskih podataka, skraćenu verziju Skale suočavanja sa stresom, Skalu percipirane socijalne podrške, Proširenu skalu sestrinskog stresa i Upitnik tjelesnih simptoma. Provedbom analize varijance utvrđeno je da medicinske sestre i tehničari zaposleni u Kliničkim bolničkim centrima i Općim bolnicama kao ustanovama tercijarne zdravstvene usluge doživljavaju više razine stresa u usporedbi s ostalim ustanovama zdravstvene skrbi. Također, utvrđeno je kako medicinske sestre i tehničari zaposleni na COVID odjelima izvještavaju o više doživljenog stresa. Provedbom hijerarhijskih regresijskih analiza utvrđen je doprinos vrste odjela i ustanove zaposlenja, kao i percipirane socijalne podrške kolega u objašnjenju doživljaja stresa te doprinos spola i stupnja obrazovanja u objašnjenju percipiranih tjelesnih simptoma. Dakle, zaposlenost na COVID odjelima i u Kliničkim bolničkim centrima ili Općim bolnicama predicira višu razinu doživljenog stresa. No, osobe koje percipiraju višu socijalnu podršku kolega doživljavaju niže razine stresa. Nadalje, utvrđeno je da ženski spol i viši stupanj obrazovanja predviđaju višu razinu percipiranih tjelesnih simptoma.The aim of this study was to examine the differences in the experience of stress with respect to demographic data and to examine the relationships between perceived social support, ways of coping with stress, experience of stress and perceived physical symptoms. The online survey involved 225 nurses and technicians (20 male and 204 female and 1 non-gender) ranging in age from 20 to 64 (M = 35.67, SD = 11.61). Respondents completed the Demographic Questionnaire, the abbreviated version of the Stress Coping Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Extended Nursing Stress Scale, and the Physical Symptoms Questionnaire.The analysis of variance found that nurses and technicians employed in Clinical Hospital Centers and General Hospitals as tertiary health care institutions experience higher levels of stress compared to other health care institutions. Also, it was found that nurses and technicians employed in COVID departments indicate a higher experience of stress. The implementation of hierarchical regression analyzes determined the contribution of the department and institution of employment, as well as the perceived social support of colleagues in explaining the experience of stress and the contribution of gender and level of education in explaining perceived physical symptoms. Thus, employment in COVID wards and in Clinical Hospital Centers or General Hospitals predicts a higher level of stress experienced. But people who perceive higher social support from colleagues experience lower levels of stress. Furthermore, female gender and a higher level of education were found to predict higher levels of perceived physical symptoms