Summary
Mental health is an essential element of human well-being, which predetermines people’s ability to socialize, work, and develop healthily. However, continuous exposure to stressors associated with work in the healthcare setting puts nurses at a high risk of developing mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other condition (Huang et al., 2018).
With the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pressure on nurses has rapidly increased, significantly overloading healthcare facilities, intensifying the workload, and contributing to the overall burnout of the nursing staff (Marsden et al., 2022). Research shows that despite the elevated risks of nurses’ mental health deterioration due to the specifics of their work, their conditions are often underdiagnosed and undertreated (Sovold et al., 2021).
Therefore, it is essential to research the impacts of the mental health of nurses on their practice to ensure what methods can effectively improve the well-being of healthcare professionals. Since public health outcomes largely depend on the quality of nursing care, it is essential for healthcare professionals to prevent mental health issues and perform their roles uninterruptedly.
PICOT Questions
PICOT Question #1 (Therapy/Treatment/Intervention)
In nurses diagnosed with anxiety (Population), what is the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy (Intervention), in comparison to aromatherapy (Comparative/alternative intervention), on anxiety coping skills development (Outcome)?
PICOT Question #1 Article
Bernstein, M. T., Reynolds, K. A., Jakobson, L. S., Stoesz, B. M., Alcolado, G. M., & Furer, P. (2022). Examining anxiety treatment information needs: Web-based survey study. JMIR Formative Research, 6(5), e31338. Web.
PICOT Question #2 (Diagnosis/assessment)
For nurses with their first depressive episode (Population), does molecular biomarkers testing (Identifying tool/procedure) yield more accurate or more appropriate diagnostic/assessment information than the Beck Depression Inventory (Comparative tool/procedure) about major depressive disorder (Outcome)?
PICOT Question #2 Article
Galvao, A. C. D. M., Almeida, R. N., de Sousa Júnior, G. M., Leocadio-Miguel, M. A., Palhano-Fontes, F., de Araujo, D. B., Lobão-Soares, B., Maia-de-Oliveira, J. P., Nunes, E. A., Cecilio Hallak, J. E., Sarris, J., & Galvão-Coelho, N. L. (2021). Potential biomarkers of major depression diagnosis and chronicity. PloS One, 16(9), e0257251. Web.
PICOT Question #3 (Prognosis)
In nurses working with COVID-19 patients (Population), does irregular sleep patterns (Influence/exposure to disease or condition) relative to regular sleep patterns (Comparative disease/condition OR absence of the disease/condition) increase the risk of insomnia (Outcome) during three months?
PICOT Question #3 Article
Huang, C. L. C., Wu, M. P., Ho, C. H., & Wang, J. J. (2018). Risks of treated anxiety, depression, and insomnia among nurses: A nationwide longitudinal cohort study. PloS One, 13(9), e0204224. Web.
PICOT Question #4 (Etiology/Harm)
In nurses delivering care to acute care patients (Population), does cigarette smoking (Influence/exposure/characteristic) compared to abstinence from smoking (Comparative influence/exposure OR lack of influence or exposure) increase the risk of developing symptoms of depression (Outcome)?
PICOT Question #4 Article
Wańkowicz, P., Szylińska, A., & Rotter, I. (2020). Assessment of mental health factors among health professionals depending on their contact with COVID-19 patients. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 5849. Web.
PICOT Question # 5 (Meaning or Process)
What is it like for professional nurses (Population) to socialize after diagnosing with a posttraumatic stress disorder (Condition) during the first three months after diagnosis (T)?
PICOT Question #5 Article
Aughterson, H., McKinlay, A. R., Fancourt, D., & Burton, A. (2021). Psychosocial impact on frontline health and social care professionals in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative interview study. BMJ Open, 11(2), e047353. Web.
References
Aughterson, H., McKinlay, A. R., Fancourt, D., & Burton, A. (2021). Psychosocial impact on frontline health and social care professionals in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative interview study. BMJ Open, 11(2), e047353. Web.
Bernstein, M. T., Reynolds, K. A., Jakobson, L. S., Stoesz, B. M., Alcolado, G. M., & Furer, P. (2022). Examining anxiety treatment information needs: Web-based survey study. JMIR Formative Research, 6(5), e31338.
Huang, C. L. C., Wu, M. P., Ho, C. H., & Wang, J. J. (2018). Risks of treated anxiety, depression, and insomnia among nurses: A nationwide longitudinal cohort study.PloS One, 13(9), e0204224. Web.
Marsden, K. M., Robertson, I. K., & Porter, J. (2022). Stressors, manifestations, and course of COVID-19-related distress among public sector nurses and midwives during the COVID-19 pandemic’s first year in Tasmania, Australia. PloS One, 17(8), e0271824. Web.
Galvao, A. C. D. M., Almeida, R. N., de Sousa Júnior, G. M., Leocadio-Miguel, M. A., Palhano-Fontes, F., de Araujo, D. B., Lobão-Soares, B., Maia-de-Oliveira, J. P., Nunes, E. A., Cecilio Hallak, J. E., Sarris, J., & Galvão-Coelho, N. L. (2021). Potential biomarkers of major depression diagnosis and chronicity. PloS One, 16(9), e0257251. Web.
Sovold, L. E., Naslund, J. A., Kousoulis, A. A., Saxena, S., Qoronfleh, M. W., Grobler, C., & Münter, L. (2021). Prioritizing the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers: An urgent global public health priority. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 679397.
Wańkowicz, P., Szylińska, A., & Rotter, I. (2020). Assessment of mental health factors among health professionals depending on their contact with COVID-19 patients.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 5849. Web.