COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Felice Curcio, Cesar Iván Avilés González, Maria Zicchi, Gabriele Sole, Gabriele Finco, Oumaima Ez Zinabi, Pedro Melo, Maura Galletta and José R. Martinez-Riera
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Felice Curcio: Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Sassari (UNISS), Viale San Pietro 43/B, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Cesar Iván Avilés González: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
Maria Zicchi: Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Sassari (UNISS), Viale San Pietro 43/B, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Gabriele Sole: Mater Olbia Hospital, Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda, 07026 Olbia, Italy
Gabriele Finco: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
Oumaima Ez Zinabi: Mater Olbia Hospital, Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda, 07026 Olbia, Italy
Pedro Melo: Centre for Interdisiplinary Research in Health, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal
Maura Galletta: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
José R. Martinez-Riera: Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-14

Abstract: COVID-19 is a challenge for education systems around the world. This study aimed to evaluate the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing students, by assessing their emotions, the level of concern in contracting the virus and their perceived stress. We conducted an observational cross-sectional study. A total of 709 nursing students completed an anonymous questionnaire. The levels of anxiety and stress were assessed using the generalized anxiety disorder scale and the COVID-19 student stress questionnaire, respectively. In total, 56.8% of the sample often or always found it difficult to attend distance-learning activities. The main difficulty referred to was connection problems (75.7%). The mean generalized anxiety disorder score was 9.46 (SD = 5.4) and appeared almost homogeneous among students across the three years of study; most of the students showed mild (35%) to moderate (27%) levels of anxiety; 19% had severe anxiety. The overall COVID-19 stressor mean scores were 11.40 (SD = 6.50); the majority of the students (47.1%) showed scores indicative of moderate stress, 25% showed low stress levels, and 28% showed high-stress levels. Improvements and investments are needed to ensure high-quality distance learning, adequate connectivity, technical support for students, as well as strategies to promote mental health.

Keywords: anxiety; COVID-19; coronavirus disease 2019; nursing education; nursing students; online education; pandemic lockdown; psychological distress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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