Prevalence and Categories of Psychosocial Challenges Encountered by Critical Care Nurses Caring for Patients With Covid-19 at Kenyatta National Hospital Critical Care Units

Abstract

Introduction: Infection with COVID-19 may require care in the Critical Care Unit (CCU). The pandemic necessitated expanded CCU capacity, as well as specialised CCU personnel to care for critically sick patients as the pandemic grew in severity. As a consequence of caring for COVID-19 patients in a stressful CCU setting, CCNs are reported to be enduring severe psychological and physical impacts. Objective: To establish the prevalence and categories of the psychosocial challenges encountered by critical care nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 at Kenyatta National Hospital critical care units. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used in this investigation. Critical care nurses involved in care of COVID-19 patients comprised the population of this study. A sample of 39 respondents, selected by census sampling method was included. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire was pre-tested at Kenyatta National Hospitals’ Main CCU before data collection as the Critical Care nurses in the Main CCU had occasionally cared for COVID-19 patients. The questionnaire was distributed electronically using Microsoft Forms 365 app. Data was analysed using descriptive and chi-square analysis using SPSS version 28. Descriptive statistics were important in establishing demographic characteristics of respondents, psychological challenges, physical challenges and social challenges. To establish relationships between variables, chi-square tests were carried out. Chi-square tests were conducted at 95% confidence interval whereby significant relationships were established using p-value 0.05 as the critical value. Tables were employed in displaying the findings. The study adhered to the ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficence justice, non-maleficence, anonymity and confidentiality. Results: The prevalence of psychological, physical and sociological challenges was 31 (79.5%), 7(17.9%) and 30 (76.9%) respectively. There was a significant association (χ2 =9.340, df=3, p= 0.025) between respondents’ age and presence of physical challenges. Conclusion: The prevalence of psychological, physical and sociological challenges was high among critical care nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 at Kenyatta National Hospital with psychological challenges being notably high at 79.5%. The management of KNH ought to institute strategies for identifying nurses and other health professionals facing various associated challenges, especially psychological and social challenges and proactively put in place support systems to mitigate such challenges.