Influencing factors of quality of life among front-line nurses who collected nucleic acid samples during COVID-19: a path analysis

AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate the quality of life of nurses who collected nucleic acid samples throughout the COVID-19 epidemic's routine management, as well as the factors that may have influenced it. BACKGROUND: After the outbreak of COVID-19, normalized epidemic prevention and control throughout China were implemented. Nucleic acid testing has become an effective measure for the early detection of virus-infected individuals. Nurses collecting nucleic acid samples undertake important tasks. Their quality of life is significant to maintaining team stability and containing the epidemic. However, research on their quality of life is still limited. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1,292 nurses who collected nucleic acid samples from five tertiary general hospitals in Xi'an through self-reported electronic questionnaires (including general demographic information, the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Scale). Descriptive, one-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression were performed using SPSS 26.0. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the influencing factors. RESULTS: The nurses collecting nucleic acid samples had a modest level of quality of life. Age, marital status, average daily sleep duration, frequency of exercise, psychological resilience, and social support were all influencing factors of quality of life, according to multiple linear regression analysis. Quality of life was found to be significantly related to psychological resilience and social support. CONCLUSION: Demographic characteristics, psychological resilience, and social support are the factors affecting the quality of life of nurses who collect nucleic acid samples. Nursing managers should focus more on these factors to improve the quality of life for nurses. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nursing managers should realize the importance of the quality of life of nurses who collect nucleic acid samples in maintaining a vigorous nursing team and ensuring optimized epidemic control. Social support should also be provided to nurses to improve their psychological resilience, thereby improving their quality of life.