ABSTRACT : Purpose : To evaluate the severity and longitudinal trends of depression in critical care nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in the US during a global pandemic
Methods : The study employed longitudinal mixed methods. Using the patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), nursed were sent electronic surveys at baseline. 1 month, between 3-6 months to measure the severity and trends of depression during the prevaccination stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. One-on-one interviews were conducted with critical care nurses to evaluate thier depressive symptoms
. Results: Forty eight nurses completed the questionaire at baseline, 40 completed 1-month surveys, and 20 completed at 3-6 months surveys. The mean PHQ-9 score was 5.85, 6.20 and 8.30 at baseline, at 1 month, and at 3 to 6 months, respectively.. PHQ-9 scores increased significantly over time (estimate=1.120, (P=0.37). The probability of participants being moderately to severely depressed was (P=049) at baseline, 0.990 (P=013) at 1 month, and 1.0 (P=002) at 3 to 6 months. Fourteen nurses were include in a single, one-on-one interview. Eight major themes were found in qualitative analyses. For example, nurses expressed fear of spreading COVID-19 to their loved one and community. Common themes identified within tbe interviews included a single, one-on-one interview.Commons themes identified within the interviews included uncertainty, limited human interaction, fluctuations in mood, life is in my hands, a threat to others, positive and negative coping, nurses as scapegoats, and emerging vulnerability to COVID-19 exposure. All 14 nurses who were interviews denied accessing any mental health services.
Conclusions : More research is needed to evaluate critical care nurses who care for patients with COVI-19 and their level of depression to improve practice at the bedside further and develop policies to promote their well-being.