Biopsychosocial Problems and Coping Methods of Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive and Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Studies have shown health care workers experience physical and psychologi-al problems during the COVID-19.

Aim: This study aimed to define nurses’ biopsychosocial problems and coping methods during the pandemic.

Methods: This study was planned as a descriptive and cross-sectional study between 1 September and October 30, 2020, in the 1st year of the pandemic. The sample of the study consisted of 438 nurses. An information form was used to collect the data, including the sociodemographic characteristics of the nurses, the problems they experienced during the pandemic, and their coping methods. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data.

Results: The mean age of the nurses was 29.20 ± 6.38. The most intense emotions experienced by nurses during the pandemic period were fear, anxiety (31.7%); concern, doubtfulness (22.9%); and fatigue, distress, and burnout (18.4%). The most important reason for their anxiety was infecting their family, loved ones, relatives, and children (44.3%). The sleep of 30.3% of nurses was irregular. The ways of coping with problems were talking with loved ones (14.8%), taking precautions to avoid getting sick (14.4%), doing activities (13.7%), and positive thinking (10.3%). Of them, 55.7% stated that they had worked in an inadequate and insecure environment.

Conclusion: During the pandemic, nurses experienced biopsychosocial problems and worked in an inadequate and unsafe environment. Nurses should be supported in biopsychosocial and working conditions, including reducing busy working hours, increasing the number of nurses, and increasing the number and accessibility of equipment should be improved.