Psychological distress, associated factors and coping strategies among female student nurses in the Nurses' Training School Galle
<p><strong>Objectives </strong>To assess the prevalence, describe selected factors associated with status of psychological distress and coping strategies among female student nurses in the Nurses‟ Training School (NTS) Galle.</p> <p><strong>Methods </strong>...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka
2011-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of the College of Community Physicians |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jccpsl.sljol.info/articles/3868 |
| Summary: | <p><strong>Objectives </strong>To assess the prevalence, describe selected factors associated with status of psychological distress and coping strategies among female student nurses in the Nurses‟ Training School (NTS) Galle.</p> <p><strong>Methods </strong>A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 525 female student nurses in the NTS Galle in 2009. A self -administered questionnaire (SAQ) identified work and non-work related factors. The validated General Health Questionnaire- 30 (GHQ-30) Sinhala version was used for the assessment of the status of psychological distress, with a score of ≥6 confirming psychological distress. Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies for stress were identified using a SAQ. Logistic regression analysis was applied and results were expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).</p> <p><strong>Results </strong>The prevalence of psychological distress among student nurses was 46.6% (n=239). Among work related factors, dissatisfaction about the training environment, boredom at work and fear of failure in examinations were significantly associated with psychological distress among them (p<0.05). Conflicts with colleagues and unavailability of professional counseling service in the NTS were also stressors that significantly affected the psychological distress status (p<0.05). Among non-work related factors, a death of a family member or a close person, increasing arguments with family members and missing opportunities to meet loved ones were significantly associated with psychological distress (p<0.05). More than 40% of student nurses seldom practised a problem-focused coping strategy.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions </strong>The proportion of female student nurses with psychological distress was high. Programmes to improve life skills, specially coping strategies and provision of professional counseling services are recommended.</p> <p><strong>Key words</strong>: Student nurses; Psychological distress; Coping strategies; Sri Lanka</p> <p>DOI: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jccpsl.v16i1.3868">http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jccpsl.v16i1.3868</a> </p> <p><em>Journal of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka</em> Vol.16(1) 2011, p23-29</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1391-3174 2579-1451 |