BMC Nursing (Oct 2024)

A cross-sectional survey on COVID-19 phobia and its influencing factors among undergraduate nursing students

  • Yunting Luo,
  • Jisong Li,
  • Xu Qiao,
  • Mingyue Zheng

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02404-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the psychological well-being of undergraduate nursing students in China. It is vital to have an understanding of their COVID-19 phobia and its predictors, especially during transitions in public health policy. Objective This study aims to evaluate the situation and factors contributing to COVID-19 phobia among nursing students in Southwestern China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2022 among nursing undergraduates in southwestern China. A convenience sample of 317 undergraduate nursing students from all grades at a medical university in Chengdu was assessed using the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P). Results The mean COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-SC) score was 52.92 (± 13.02), indicating moderate levels of phobia, with gender, chronic disease, and perceived susceptibility being significant predictors. 11.67% of the students reported an infection history, while 81.39% knew an infected individual. Notably, fourth-year students showed significantly higher phobia level than first-year. Gender, chronic disease, perceived susceptibility, and risk significantly predicted COVID-19 phobia, explaining 16.4% of the variance Results of the thematic analysis revealed four main themes related to COVID-19 phobia and career choice among nursing undergraduates: concerns of infection risk, professional commitment, compromise and acceptance, and confronting phobia. Conclusions This study discovered a significant level of COVID-19 phobia among undergraduate nursing students and identified several risk factors, including being female, having chronic diseases, perceiving a high susceptibility to the virus, and perceiving a high level of harm after infection. These findings highlight the importance of educators focusing on the mental well-being of nursing students, particularly seniors, to reduce the impact of phobia on their social interactions and career aspirations. This will help ensure that they are well-prepared for their future roles in healthcare.

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