Measurement of occupational fatigue/exhaustion recovery in nurses caring for COVID-۱۹ patients

Introduction: The shadow of the coronavirus phenomenon over the nursing profession is considered as a serious threat to the health of nurses and the quality of nursing care for coronavirus patients. This study intended to measure the occupational fatigue/exhaustion recovery of nurses caring for COVID-۱۹ patients in hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study of ۲۰۳ nurses caring for coronavirus patients was conducted in ۲۰۲۱ using the census method. Data were collected using the ۱۵-item Occupational Fatigue/Exhaustion Recovery (OFER-۱۵) scale and analyzed by SPSS statistical software version ۲۲ using independent t, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey’s post hoc tests. The significance level was considered as α = ۰.۰۵.Results: The majority of the nurses were female (۵۱.۲%), married (۸۱.۳%), and bachelor’s degree educated (۸۶.۲%). The mean occupational exhaustion score of the nurses studied was ۶۰.۲۰±۶.۱۳, indicating a high level. Likewise, the average score for chronic fatigue was ۲۲.۸۹±۵.۸۷, representing a high level. In contrast, the mean scores for acute fatigue and intershift recovery were ۱۸.۳۶±۲.۷۶ and ۱۸.۹۵±۲.۴۱, respectively, suggesting a moderate level. Nurses in the special coronavirus ward had a significantly higher mean score of acute fatigue than those in the general coronavirus ward (p=۰.۰۲).Conclusion: Since the mean occupational exhaustion score among nurses caring for coronavirus patients was high in this study, it is recommended that managers modify the conditions and variables that contribute to fatigue, implement the necessary controls to reduce fatigue, and formulate a strategy to boost the productivity of nurses and the satisfaction of COVID-۱۹ patients.

کلیدواژه ها:

Acute fatigue ، Chronic fatigue ، Occupational Fatigue/Exhaustion Recovery ، Nurse ، COVID-۱۹