Post-traumatic stress status among emergency department nurses during the winter H1N1 influenza season and correlations with burnout, coping, resilience, and support

ObjectiveThe H1N1 influenza, a highly contagious acute respiratory disease, causes a significant burden on public health, especially during the winter season when the number of cases surges. Emergency department nurses, who are on the frontline of patient care during this period, are exposed to high - stress situations, increasing their risk of developing post - traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding the status of PTSD among them and its influencing factors is crucial for safeguarding their mental health and ensuring quality healthcare. This study aims to investigate the status of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among emergency department nurses in multiple tertiary hospitals in Shanghai, China during the winter H1N1 influenza season and analyze its influencing factors.MethodsA cross - sectional study design was adopted from October 2023 to December 2023. A total of 116 emergency department nurses from multiple tertiary hospitals in Shanghai were selected as research subjects using cluster sampling during the peak period of winter H1N1 influenza. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used for data collection. PTSD was defined as IES-R score ≥ 35, and participants were grouped as PTSD positive or negative. The relationship between PTSD and occupational burnout, coping styles, psychological resilience, and social support was analyzed.ResultsAmong the 116 participants, the rate of PTSD positivity was 44.86% (48/107). The MBI scores in all dimensions were significantly higher in the PTSD positive group compared to the PTSD negative group. The positive coping scores in the SCSQ were lower in the positive group, while the negative coping scores were higher. The CD-RISC scores in all dimensions were significantly lower in the PTSD positive group, as were the SSRS scores in all dimensions. Higher emotional exhaustion was significantly associated with increased odds of PTSD (OR = 1.16), indicating that for each one-point increase in emotional exhaustion, the odds of PTSD increased by 16%. Greater reliance on negative coping strategies was also independently associated with PTSD (OR = 1.23). In contrast, higher levels of optimism (a resilience factor) and greater subjective social support were protective, significantly lowering the odds of PTSD (OR = 0.76 and OR = 0.70, respectively).ConclusionThe occurrence of PTSD among emergency department nurses during the winter H1N1 influenza season is considerable and closely related to occupational burnout, psychological resilience, coping styles, and social support. These findings highlight the urgent need for attention to this issue. However, this study has several limitations. The sample was only from top - tier hospitals in Shanghai during the winter influenza season, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Also, relying on self-reported questionnaires may be subject to recall bias and self - reporting subjectivity.