A cross-sectional survey on COVID-19 phobia and its influencing factors among undergraduate nursing students

• Published in: BMC nursing Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 749 - 11
• Main Authors: Luo, Yunting, Li, Jisong, Qiao, Xu, Zheng, Mingyue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 14-10-2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Career intention; Causes of; COVID-19 phobia; Nursing students; Phobias; Psychological aspects; Thematic analysis; Undergraduate nursing students; China; COVID-19 phobia; Undergraduate nursing students; Thematic analysis; Career intention
• ISSN: 1472-6955; 1472-6955
• DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-02404-y

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the psychological well-being of undergraduate nursing students in China. It is vital to have an understanding of their COVID-19 phobia and its predictors, especially during transitions in public health policy.
This study aims to evaluate the situation and factors contributing to COVID-19 phobia among nursing students in Southwestern China.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2022 among nursing undergraduates in southwestern China. A convenience sample of 317 undergraduate nursing students from all grades at a medical university in Chengdu was assessed using the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P).
The mean COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-SC) score was 52.92 (± 13.02), indicating moderate levels of phobia, with gender, chronic disease, and perceived susceptibility being significant predictors. 11.67% of the students reported an infection history, while 81.39% knew an infected individual. Notably, fourth-year students showed significantly higher phobia level than first-year. Gender, chronic disease, perceived susceptibility, and risk significantly predicted COVID-19 phobia, explaining 16.4% of the variance Results of the thematic analysis revealed four main themes related to COVID-19 phobia and career choice among nursing undergraduates: concerns of infection risk, professional commitment, compromise and acceptance, and confronting phobia.
This study discovered a significant level of COVID-19 phobia among undergraduate nursing students and identified several risk factors, including being female, having chronic diseases, perceiving a high susceptibility to the virus, and perceiving a high level of harm after infection. These findings highlight the importance of educators focusing on the mental well-being of nursing students, particularly seniors, to reduce the impact of phobia on their social interactions and career aspirations. This will help ensure that they are well-prepared for their future roles in healthcare.