The prevalence of fatigue among Chinese nursing students in post-COVID-19 era
Shou Liu,
Hai-Tao Xi,
Qian-Qian Zhu,
Mengmeng Ji,
Hongyan Zhang,
Bing-Xiang Yang,
Wei Bai,
Hong Cai,
Yan-Jie Zhao,
Li Chen,
Zong-Mei Ge,
Zhiwen Wang,
Lin Han,
Pan Chen,
Shuo Liu,
Teris Cheung,
Brian J. Hall,
Feng-Rong An,
Yu-Tao Xiang
Affiliations
Shou Liu
Department of Public Health, Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai province, China
Hai-Tao Xi
Nursing College, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin province, China
Qian-Qian Zhu
School of Nursing, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Mengmeng Ji
School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing, China
Hongyan Zhang
School of nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu province, China
Bing-Xiang Yang
School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei province, China
Wei Bai
Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
Hong Cai
Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
Yan-Jie Zhao
Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
Li Chen
Nursing College, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin province, China
Zong-Mei Ge
Nursing College, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin province, China
Zhiwen Wang
School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing, China
Lin Han
School of nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu province, China
Pan Chen
School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei province, China
Shuo Liu
School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei province, China
Teris Cheung
School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Brian J. Hall
School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
Feng-Rong An
The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders Beijing Anding Hospital & the Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, School of Mental Health, Beijing, China
Yu-Tao Xiang
Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
Background Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, all teaching activities in nursing schools were suspended in China, and many nursing students were summoned to work in hospitals to compensate for the shortage of manpower. This study examined the prevalence of fatigue and its association with quality of life (QOL) among nursing students during the post-COVID-19 era in China. Methods This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Nursing students in five Chinese universities were invited to participate. Fatigue, depressive and anxiety symptoms, pain and QOL were measured using standardized instruments. Results A total of 1,070 nursing students participated. The prevalence of fatigue was 67.3% (95% CI [64.4–70.0]). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that male gender (P = 0.003, OR = 1.73, 95% CI [1.20–2.49]), and being a senior nursing student (second year: OR = 2.20, 95% CI [1.46–3.33], P < 0.001; third year: OR = 3.53, 95% CI [2.31–5.41], P < 0.001; and fourth year OR = 3.59, 95% CI [2.39–5.40], P < 0.001) were significantly associated with more severe fatigue. In addition, moderate economic loss during the COVID-19 pandemic (OR = 1.48, 95% CI [1.08–3.33], P < 0.015; compared to low loss), participants with more severe depressive (OR = 1.48, 95% CI [1.22–1.78], P < 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.12, 95% CI [1.05–1.20], P = 0.001), and more severe pain (OR = 1.67, 95%CI [1.46–1.91], P < 0.001) were significantly associated with reported more severe fatigue. After controlling for covariates, nursing students with fatigue had a lower overall QOL score compared to those without (F(1, 1070) = 31.4, P < 0.001). Conclusion Fatigue was common among nursing students in the post-COVID-19 era. Considering the negative impact of fatigue on QOL and daily functioning, routine physical and mental health screening should be conducted for nursing students. Effective stress-reduction measures should be enforced to assist this subpopulation to combat fatigue and restore optimal health.
