J Korean Acad Soc Nurs Educ.  2024 Feb;30(1):49-60. 10.5977/jkasne.2024.30.1.49.

Long COVID symptoms and associated factors in registered nurses with COVID-19

• Park GE
• Park YH

• KMID: 2553085
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2024.30.1.49

Abstract

Purpose
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had significant physical and psychological impacts on registered nurses (RNs). This study aimed to identify long COVID symptoms and their associated factors specifically among RNs.
Methods
This descriptive correlational study’s sample comprised 189 nurses (31.57±5.98 years, 93.7% female) in Korea. Self-reported long COVID symptoms were assessed using the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale. Data were collected from December 31, 2022, to January 13, 2023, using the online survey method and were analyzed using independent t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and a multiple linear regression analysis with the IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 program.
Results
A total of 179 participants (94.7%) experienced one or more long COVID symptoms. The most prevalent symptoms were weakness (77.8%), fatigue (68.3%), breathlessness (67.7%), cough/throat sensitivity/voice change (50.3%), and sleep problems (50.3%). The factors related to long COVID symptoms were marital status, type of institution, working time, acute COVID-19 symptoms, and vaccination status. The quarantine period (β=.26, p<.001) and the nursing workforce after COVID-19 (β=-.17, p=.018) were significantly associated with long COVID symptoms (Adjusted R²=.33).
Conclusion
Providing comprehensive recognition is necessary for the understanding of long COVID symptoms and their associated factors among nurses and could promote a long COVID symptom management education program targeted at nurses. Moreover, it could facilitate effective nursing care and education plans for long COVID patients.

Keyword

COVID-19, Nurses, Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, Signs and symptoms, Nursing education