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Experiences and psychosocial problems of nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Turkey: A qualitative study

Author

Listed:
  • Ozlem Kackin
  • Emre Ciydem
  • Ozgur Sema Aci
  • Fatma Yasemin Kutlu

Abstract

Background: Nurses, who are playing an important role during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, are exposed to a range of psychosocial stressors due to unforeseen risks. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the experiences and psychosocial problems of nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Turkey. Settings: The data were collected between 9 May and 12 May 2020, in Istanbul, Turkey. Participants: The study sample consisted of 10 nurses, who cared for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods: The research employed the descriptive phenomenological approach. The interviews were conducted face-to-face via the internet and were analysed with Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Results: The experiences and psychosocial problems among nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were categorised under three themes, which were further divided into subcategories. The theme of the effects of the outbreak was divided into working conditions, psychological effects and social effects; the theme of short-term coping strategies was divided into normalisation, refusal to dwell on experiences, avoidance, expression of emotions and distraction; and the theme of necessities was divided into psychosocial support and resource management. Conclusion: The nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Turkey were adversely affected, both psychologically and socially, by the pandemic; they used short-term coping strategies, and they needed psychosocial support and resource management. They also faced stigmatising attitudes and experiencing burnout and were at risk for secondary traumas due to witnessing disease and death.

Suggested Citation

  • Ozlem Kackin & Emre Ciydem & Ozgur Sema Aci & Fatma Yasemin Kutlu, 2021. "Experiences and psychosocial problems of nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Turkey: A qualitative study," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(2), pages 158-167, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:67:y:2021:i:2:p:158-167
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764020942788
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    Cited by:

    1. Mariana Aparicio Betancourt & Andrea Duarte-Díaz & Helena Vall-Roqué & Laura Seils & Carola Orrego & Lilisbeth Perestelo-Pérez & Jaime Barrio-Cortes & María Teresa Beca-Martínez & Almudena Molina Serr, 2022. "Global Healthcare Needs Related to COVID-19: An Evidence Map of the First Year of the Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Maysa H. Almomani & Wejdan A. Khater & Laila M. Akhu-Zaheya & Aladeen Alloubani & Safa A. AlAshram & Mohammed Azab & Adeeb K. Al-malkawi, 2022. "Nurses’ Experiences of Caring for Patients with COVID-19: A Qualitative Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, December.
    3. Polat, Ayşe & Demircioğlu, Zübeyde & Küçükali, Hüseyin, 2024. "Are we heroes or couriers? A phenomenological study on reappropriation of professional subjectivity and agency among health professionals during COVID-19 contact tracing in Türkiye," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    4. Katarzyna Kotlarska & Benita Wielgus & Łukasz Cichocki, 2021. "Phenomenology of the COVID-19 Pandemic Experience in Patients Suffering from Chronic Schizophrenia—A Qualitative Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Sara Huerta-González & Dolores Selva-Medrano & Fidel López-Espuela & Pedro Ángel Caro-Alonso & Andre Novo & Beatriz Rodríguez-Martín, 2021. "The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Front Line Nurses: A Synthesis of Qualitative Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Hasan Erbay, 2024. "The COVID-19 Pandemic Response and Its Impact on Post-Corona Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management in Türkiye," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-17, January.
    7. Ana María Rodríguez-López & Susana Rubio-Valdehita, 2021. "COVID-19 Concerns and Personality of Commerce Workers: Its Influence on Burnout," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-15, November.
    8. Rosa María Diaz Vizcaya & María José Rodríguez Rivas & Helia Mariño Méndez & María Teresa Alvés Pérez & José López Castro, 2023. "Euro-Burn I: Assessment of burnout syndrome in health workers in a mediterranean country during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(7), pages 1682-1692, November.
    9. Maria Karanikola & Meropi Mpouzika & Elizabeth Papathanassoglou & Katerina Kaikoushi & Anna Hatzioannou & Ioannis Leontiou & Chris Livadiotis & Nicos Christophorou & Andreas Chatzittofis, 2022. "Work-Related Traumatic Stress Response in Nurses Employed in COVID-19 Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-15, September.

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