The other side of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study on mental health in a sample of Italian nurses

Background The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting drastic increase in the workload for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, has had serious consequences on the psychological well-being of these professionals. Our study aimed at (i) identifying demographic, work-related factors, and clinical predictors of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in nurses employed during COVID-19 pandemic and (ii) assessing problem-focused coping strategies implemented by nurses. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional study between December 2020 and April 2021, addressed to nurses employed during the COVID-19 second wave (October - December 2020). PTSD and GAD were assessed by Social Readjustment Rating Scale, Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) and General Anxiety Disorder -7 scale. Results Overall, 359 nurses were included in the study, whose mean age was 31.75 years (SD ± 9.77). Most were female (80.8%), unmarried (53.2%) and employed in the central (52.5%) and northern (36.4%) regions of Italy. A total of 59.7% of all participants had clinical predictors of PTSD, recording a mean score of IES-R of 38.2, SD ± 19.2, range 1- 84 (cut-off >33 for PTSD). Furthermore, 45.6% of respondents reported moderate - severe symptoms consistent with generalized anxiety disorder. Statistical significance was found between GAD and nurses being employed on the front line (Intensive care unit and emergency department) during the COVID-19 second wave (p = 0.016), and between GAD and clinical predictors of PTSD (p = 0.001). Furthermore, we found a statistically significant association between PTSD and nurses who were employed in hospitals or institutions dedicated to COVID-19 (p = 0.028). Conclusions PTSD and GAD represent a public health problem to be addressed in the post-pandemic period. Healthcare organizations need to activate specific support and rehabilitation networks and programs for healthcare professionals employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key messages The levels of PTSD symptoms and anxiety among nurses were high during the pandemic. It is necessary for health systems to differentiate between temporary and long-term mental disorders in order to provide the health workforce with appropriate rehabilitation.