Depression and anxiety among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal results over 2 years from the multicentre VOICE-EgePan study.
COVID‐19
anxiety
depression
health care workers
longitudinal
mental health
nurses
pandemic
prospective
Journal
Journal of clinical nursing
ISSN: 1365-2702
Titre abrégé: J Clin Nurs
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9207302
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
22 Mar 2024
22 Mar 2024
Historique:
revised:
19
01
2024
received:
18
09
2023
accepted:
11
02
2024
medline:
23
3
2024
pubmed:
23
3
2024
entrez:
23
3
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
To examine symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety among nurses over 2 years during the pandemic and compare them to the general population. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in mental stress among the population worldwide. Nursing staff have been identified as being under remarkable strain. A multicentre prospective longitudinal study. Symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety in 507 nurses were examined at four different time points (T1: April-July 2020, T2: November 2020-January 2021, T3: May-July 2021, T4: February-May 2022). Results were compared with values of the German general population, presence of gender-specific differences was analysed and frequencies of clinically relevant levels of depression and anxiety were determined. Throughout the study (T1-T4), a significant increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms was observed. At all four measurement time points, nurses showed significantly higher prevalence for depression and anxiety compared to the German general population. No significant gender differences were found. Frequencies for probable depression and generalised anxiety disorder among nurses were: 21.6% and 18.5% (T1), 31.4% and 29.2% (T2), 29.5% and 26.2% (T3), 33.7% and 26.4% (T4). During the pandemic, symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety among nurses increased significantly and remained elevated. Their symptom levels were permanently higher than in the general population. These findings strongly suggest that the circumstances of the pandemic severely affected nurses´ mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a great mental strain on caregivers. This study was able to demonstrate the significant increase in depression and anxiety among nurses during the pandemic. It highlights the urgent need for prevention, screening and support systems in hospitals. Supportive programmes and preventive services should be developed, not least to prevent the growing shortage of nurses in the health care systems. The study adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines. The STROBE checklist for cohort study was used as the reporting method. Five hundred and seven nurses completed the questionnaire and provided data for analysis. The study was registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (https://drks.de/search/en) under the following ID: DRKS00021268.
Sections du résumé
AIMS
OBJECTIVE
To examine symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety among nurses over 2 years during the pandemic and compare them to the general population.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in mental stress among the population worldwide. Nursing staff have been identified as being under remarkable strain.
DESIGN
METHODS
A multicentre prospective longitudinal study.
METHODS
METHODS
Symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety in 507 nurses were examined at four different time points (T1: April-July 2020, T2: November 2020-January 2021, T3: May-July 2021, T4: February-May 2022). Results were compared with values of the German general population, presence of gender-specific differences was analysed and frequencies of clinically relevant levels of depression and anxiety were determined.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Throughout the study (T1-T4), a significant increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms was observed. At all four measurement time points, nurses showed significantly higher prevalence for depression and anxiety compared to the German general population. No significant gender differences were found. Frequencies for probable depression and generalised anxiety disorder among nurses were: 21.6% and 18.5% (T1), 31.4% and 29.2% (T2), 29.5% and 26.2% (T3), 33.7% and 26.4% (T4).
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
During the pandemic, symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety among nurses increased significantly and remained elevated. Their symptom levels were permanently higher than in the general population. These findings strongly suggest that the circumstances of the pandemic severely affected nurses´ mental health.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
CONCLUSIONS
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a great mental strain on caregivers. This study was able to demonstrate the significant increase in depression and anxiety among nurses during the pandemic. It highlights the urgent need for prevention, screening and support systems in hospitals.
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION
UNASSIGNED
Supportive programmes and preventive services should be developed, not least to prevent the growing shortage of nurses in the health care systems.
REPORTING METHOD
UNASSIGNED
The study adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines. The STROBE checklist for cohort study was used as the reporting method.
PATIENT CONTRIBUTION
UNASSIGNED
Five hundred and seven nurses completed the questionnaire and provided data for analysis.
TRIAL AND PROTOCOL REGISTRATION
UNASSIGNED
The study was registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (https://drks.de/search/en) under the following ID: DRKS00021268.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Subventions
Organisme : Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
ID : 01KX2021
Organisme : Open Access Publication Funding
Informations de copyright
© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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