Anxiety, Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among the Nepalese Nurses Working around the World During a Corona Virus Disease -19 Outbreak

Abstract

Abstract Background: Nurses are the frontline health professional of healthcare delivery system prone to have psychosocial problems. This study aimed to explore anxiety, stress and coping strategies among the Nepalese Nurses working around the World during a corona virus disease -19 Outbreak. Methods: A web based cross sectional study was conducted for a period of three month among 240 nurses from Nepal and working abroad. They were invited to participate via various web based networks. Anxiety Self rating scale, perceived stress Scale and coping strategies were used for data collection. Chisquare, spearman rho and Manwhitnney was used for data analysis. Results: More than half 58.8% were <30 years of age,mean age was 31±7.29 ,range was 20-56 years.Only17.5%were having Mild to Extreme Anxiety and, 62.5% Nepalese nurses were having stress. Regarding coping strategies mean score is higher in positive reframing followed by acceptance.There was significant association between stress and demographic variables marital status and country.Nepalese Nurses working in Nepal were having more anxiety and stress mean score than Nepalese nurses working abroad. Conclusions: Nepalese nurses working in Nepal were having more anxiety and stress mean score than Nepalese nurses working in abroad. Mean score of coping strategies was higher in avoidant coping (Maladaptive coping) in nurses working in Nepal whereas mean score is higher in Approach coping (Adaptive coping) in Nepalese nurses working abroad. Keywords: Anxiety; coping; corona virus disease-19; nurses; stress