COVID-19-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Jordanian Nurses during the pandemic

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has been declared a pandemic and has affected both patients and health-care workers. This study was conducted to explore the extent of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experiences among nurses because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan.

METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional study design with a convenience sampling approach. A sample of 259 participants completed the study questionnaires, including a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 between May and July 2020.

RESULTS: The prevalence of PTSD among the study participants was 37.1%. Most study participants who exhibited PTSD symptoms presented the lowest level of PTSD (17%). The results showed significant differences in overall COVID-19-related PTSD according to the participant's age (F = 14.750; P = 0.000), gender (F = 30.340; P = 0.000), level of education (F = 51.983; P = 0.000), years of experience (F = 52.33, P = 0.000), place of work (F = 19.593; P = 0.000), and working position (F = 11.597; P = 0.000), as determined by 1-way ANOVA.

CONCLUSIONS: Nurses must be qualified and accredited to cope with reported PTSD cases and their consequences in relation to COVID-19 outbreaks. A close collaboration with a multidisciplinary team is required to recognize, manage, and encourage safety literacy among health-care professionals and individuals diagnosed with or suspected of PTSD due to COVID-19 outbreaks or any other viral outbreaks.