Original Article
Exploring the vulnerability of frontline nurses to COVID-19 and its impact on perceived stress

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtumed.2020.07.003Get rights and content
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Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed at exploring and comparing the vulnerability to COVID-19, demographic variables and perceived stress of frontline nurses.

Methods

This study employed a quantitative comparative-correlational approach. Using the snowball sampling technique, we conducted this study involving 176 frontline nurses from hospitals of the Hail region, KSA.

Results

The frontline nurses showed high perceived infectability (x = 4.36) and germ aversion (x = 5.65) but were moderately stressed (19.19). Of the examined variables, only years of experience resulted in significant differences in germ aversion (F [3] = 8.980, p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in perceived infectability and stress. Perceived infectability (r = −0.152, p < 0.05) and germ aversion (r = 0.007, p > 0.05) were negatively correlated to perceived stress.

Conclusion

In this study, frontline nurses perceived moderate to high stress vulnerability to COVID-19. There were significant differences in germ aversion based on the duration of experience. It is noteworthy that perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 did not impact stress. Paying attention to concerns of nurses can potentially improve preventive practices and positive behaviours in combating the pandemic.

Keywords

COVID-19
Demographics
Frontline nurses
Perceived stress
Perceived vulnerability

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Peer review under responsibility of Taibah University.