Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Asisitant professor, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
2 Prof., Nursing Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Prof, Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Fear is often defined as an unpleasant and intense feeling caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. Since fear can affect the performance of nurses' duties, different strategies are used to reduce it. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the experiences of fear and stress caused by COVID-19 on nurses' care.
Materials and Methods: This study was a qualitative content analysis that was conducted during 2022-2023. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 22 participants conducted in Vasei Sabzevar and 22 Bahman Neyshabur hospitals. Participants were selected by purposive sampling, which continued until data saturation point. Then the data were analyzed by Lundman and Granheim method.
Results: Two main classes and 5 subclasses were extracted from the data analysis: (1) fear of disease (subclasses: fear of death in patients, fear of nurses getting infected and fear of transmission of covid-19 to nurses’ families) and (2) trying to adapt (subclasses: trying to control patients' fear and nurses’ adaptation to fear).
Conclusion: The findings indicated that both nurses and patients experienced significant fear during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fear in nurses had a negative impact on patient care before adaptation. It had also a negative effect on the healing process of the patients (high death rate due to fear). The strategies used by nurses to help patients to cope with their fear were mostly appropriate and effective, but insufficient. The strategies helped the nurses adapt to the existing conditions. Since the nurses were not sufficiently prepared for the emergence of such a crisis, solutions that can help nurses before and during the emergence of the disease are recommended.
Keywords
Main Subjects
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