Depression, Death Anxiety, and the Related Factors in Nurses Caring for COVID-۱۹ Patients at Kosar Hospital, Semnan, Iran

Background: The high incidence of COVID-۱۹ has provided a challenge for healthcare systems in Iran, and may result in some psychological problems. Objectives: The study aims at describing depression, death anxiety, and the related factors in nurses caring for COVID-۱۹ Patients at Kosar Hospital, Semnan, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۸۹ nurses caring for COVID-۱۹ patients were selected in October ۲۰۲۰ via the census method. A demographic questionnaire, Beck’s Depression inventory, and Templer Death Anxiety scale were used to collect the required data. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version ۲۰. Results: The mean scores of death anxiety and depression among nurses were ۷.۳۲ ۱.۷۵ and ۱۰.۸۲ ۸.۵۰ respectively. The results of the Pearson’s correlation-coefficient showed a significant positive correlation between death anxiety and depression (P = ۰.۰۵), death anxiety and nurses’ age (P < ۰.۰۵), death anxiety, and nurses’ work experience (P < ۰.۰۵). Conclusions: The findings of the study revealed that nurses caring for COVID-۱۹ patients are at high risk of death anxiety and depression. Thus, there is a need to identify these problems to prevent or reduce them with effective interventions.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Death Anxiety , Depression , Nurses