Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among nursing staff who provided direct care to COVID-19 patients: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a major physical and psychological burden on nursing staff who provide patient care in difficult circumstances with persistent exposure to infected patients. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among nursing staff working during the COVID-19 pandemic and its relationship with different work-related variables. It was designed as a cross-sectional comparative study in which 102 nurses on duty during the past 6 months were enrolled and divided into two groups. The first group included fifty-one COVID-dealing nurses who provided direct patient care to COVID-19 patients (emergency department, isolation zone, and intensive care unit (ICU)), while the second group included fifty-one non-COVID-dealing nurses on duty during the same period but in other hospital units and not providing direct care to COVID-19 patients (inpatient and outpatient wards). Sociodemographic data, work-related variables, PTSD symptom severity, and diagnosis were all assessed. RESULTS: The COVID-dealing nurses had significantly less frequent short breaks (P = 0.007), inadequate organizational support and compensation (P = 0.024), and inadequate time off work (P = 0.004) compared to non-COVID-dealing nursing staff. They were also significantly suffering from PTSD compared to second-line staff (P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-dealing nurses providing direct care to COVID-19 patients suffered significantly from PTSD with a variety of contributing work-related variables.