TY - JOUR
T1 - Australian and Danish nurses’ and midwives’ wellbeing during COVID-19
T2 - A comparison study
AU - Holton, Sara
AU - Wynter, Karen
AU - Rothmann, Mette Juel
AU - Skjøth, Mette Maria
AU - Considine, Julie
AU - Street, Maryann
AU - Hutchinson, Anastasia F.
AU - Khaw, Damien
AU - Hutchinson, Alison M.
AU - Ockerby, Cherene
AU - Crowe, Shane
AU - Trueman, Melody
AU - Sweeney, Susan
AU - Bruce, Suellen
AU - Rasmussen, Bodil
N1 - Funding Information:
The paper properly credits the meaningful contributions of co-authors and co-researchers. The submitted manuscript involved human research. The study was approved by the human research ethics committees (HRECs) of the participating health services: Eastern Health HREC LR20/035, 5 May 2020; Epworth Healthcare HREC EH2020-558, 5 May 2020; Monash Health HREC RES-20-0000-297A, 29 May 2020; Western Health Low Risk Ethics Panel HREC/20/WH/62913, 5 May 2020; and the Danish Data Agency (20/19028). The authors are most grateful to the nurses and midwives who participated in the study; and the health services for their support of the project. This work was support by an internal grant from the Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin University.
Funding Information:
The authors are most grateful to the nurses and midwives who participated in the study; and the health services for their support of the project. This work was support by an internal grant from the Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin University.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - Background: Most investigations of nurses’ and midwives’ psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic have been conducted in a single setting. Aim: To assess and compare the psychological wellbeing of nurses and midwives in Australia and Denmark during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Nurses and midwives employed at four metropolitan health services in Australia and one in Denmark completed an anonymous online survey, which assessed depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms (The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21)), and sociodemographic and employment factors. Findings: Completed surveys were received from 3001 nurses and midwives (1611 Australian and 1390 Danish). Overall, approximately one in seven of the nurses and midwives surveyed reported moderate to extremely severe levels of depression (n = 399, 13.5%), anxiety (n = 381, 12.9%) and stress (n = 394, 13.4%). Australian nurses’ and midwives’ scores on all DASS-21 subscales were significantly higher (representing higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress) than the scores for the Danish nurses and midwives. Fewer years of clinical experience, living in Australia and being employed on a part-time basis were significantly associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Discussion: A considerable proportion of nurses and midwives experienced distress during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the proportion and severity varied by country. Australian nurses and midwives experienced higher levels of distress than their Danish colleagues. Conclusion: Nurses and midwives working in countries with relatively low numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths are also likely to experience psychological distress. Nurses and midwives would benefit from targeted country-specific support and wellbeing initiatives.
AB - Background: Most investigations of nurses’ and midwives’ psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic have been conducted in a single setting. Aim: To assess and compare the psychological wellbeing of nurses and midwives in Australia and Denmark during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Nurses and midwives employed at four metropolitan health services in Australia and one in Denmark completed an anonymous online survey, which assessed depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms (The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21)), and sociodemographic and employment factors. Findings: Completed surveys were received from 3001 nurses and midwives (1611 Australian and 1390 Danish). Overall, approximately one in seven of the nurses and midwives surveyed reported moderate to extremely severe levels of depression (n = 399, 13.5%), anxiety (n = 381, 12.9%) and stress (n = 394, 13.4%). Australian nurses’ and midwives’ scores on all DASS-21 subscales were significantly higher (representing higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress) than the scores for the Danish nurses and midwives. Fewer years of clinical experience, living in Australia and being employed on a part-time basis were significantly associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Discussion: A considerable proportion of nurses and midwives experienced distress during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the proportion and severity varied by country. Australian nurses and midwives experienced higher levels of distress than their Danish colleagues. Conclusion: Nurses and midwives working in countries with relatively low numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths are also likely to experience psychological distress. Nurses and midwives would benefit from targeted country-specific support and wellbeing initiatives.
KW - Australia
KW - COVID-19
KW - Denmark
KW - Mental health
KW - Midwives
KW - Nurses
KW - Wellbeing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85119087130&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.colegn.2021.10.010
DO - 10.1016/j.colegn.2021.10.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 34744478
AN - SCOPUS:85119087130
SN - 1322-7696
VL - 29
SP - 281
EP - 287
JO - Collegian
JF - Collegian
IS - 3
ER -