İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi (Dec 2020)

The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Students’ Anxiety Levels

  • Özlem Akman,
  • Aklime Sarıkaya,
  • Dilek Yıldırım

DOI
https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.757110
Journal volume & issue
no. 12
pp. 379 – 397

Abstract

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Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of the COVID-19 epidemic on the anxiety levels of nursing students.Method: This research was conducted in a descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional design, and it was completed between April-May 2020. In the study, the data were collected with “Socio-demographic and COVID-19 Pandemic Knowledge and Attitudes of Nursing Students Information Form” and “State and Trait Anxiety Inventory”. The research data were arranged on the internet in the form of a Google survey form and sent to e-mail addresses. Written consent was obtained from the Ministry of Health Scientific Research Board and the Ethics Committee in order to carry out the study.Results: The students’ mean age was 22.61±1.70. It was found that as the level of knowledge about COVID-19 increased, their trait anxiety levels also increased (p=0,004), and as they found the effective hand washing level to be sufficient to prevent coronavirus transmission, their trait anxiety levels decreased (p=0,040). It was observed that both state and trait anxiety scores increased as their anxiety levels about coronavirus transmission increased (p<0,05), and the level of state anxiety rose as the worries about the transmission to family members increased (p=0,005).Conclusion: It was determined that the COVID-19 pandemic increased the anxiety level of nursing students. The study concluded that it would be a good method to provide training to help nursing students, who will become health professionals, in developing their attitudes and knowledge of COVID-19-related anxiety and coping methods used to deal with anxiety. Therefore, it was considered that COVID-19-related training should be provided in courses or scientific activities such as independent seminars and conferences; students should be encouraged to talk about their feelings and thoughts, consultancy services should be provided and this issue should be further investigated using case studies.

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