Stress, COVID-19 related knowledge, attitude, and infection control performance of nurses at long-term care hospitals

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the stress level, knowledge, attitude, and infection control performance of nurses at long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) designated for infectious disease management and to investigate factors contributing to infection control performance. A total of 178 nurses who had worked for at least 1 month at seven LTCHs designated for infectious disease management and provided care for patients confirmed with COVID-19 were enrolled in the study. Data were collected from February to March 2022 using written and online self-report questionnaires. COVID-19 infection control performance was higher among married than among single participants (t = -3.71, p < 0.001), among those aged 40-49 versus 30-39 years (F = 4.10, p = 0.003), and those with 1-2, 3-4, or ≥5 sessions versus no prior education (F = 6.41, p < 0.001). COVID-19 infection control performance was negatively correlated with stress (r = 0.26, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with knowledge (r = 0.40, p < 0.001) and attitude toward COVID-19 (r = -0.36, p < 0.001). Stress (β = -0.17, p = 0.012), knowledge of COVID-19 (β = 0.28, p < 0.001), attitude toward COVID-19 (β = 0.20, p = 0.004), and marital status (β = 0.18, p = 0.009) were identified as predictors of COVID-19 infection control performance.

Keywords: COVID-19; attitudes; infection control; knowledge; long-term care; nurses.