The relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and professional quality of life among nurses in the intensive care unit during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A cross-sectional study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and the professional quality of life (PQoL) of nurses in the intensive care unit (ICU) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 100 nurses working in the ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic at selected hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using demographic and professional information, as well as the Mississippi post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Stamm PQoL questionnaires. The results showed that the mean score of PTSD and PQoL in the ICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic was 90.69 (standard deviation [SD]=16.62) and 88.84 (SD=14.13), respectively, indicating moderate levels of these two variables. There was a significant positive correlation between the PTSD and PQoL (r=0.518, P<0.001); As the PTSD score increased, the PQoL score increased, so the PQoL became less favorable. Among the demographic variables, work shifts showed a significant association with PQoL (F=2.136, P=0.007). The results showed that there was a significant association between PTSD and the nurses' PQoL. Shift work was also considered a factor related to PQoL. Therefore, nurse managers provide appropriate support by assigning more nurses to shifts to reduce their workload and cope with the challenging conditions associated with different work shifts, as well as offering psychological and financial support to manage stress and improve their professional lives.