The Relationship Between Stigmatization of Nurses and Their Personal Well-being in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern and poses a resilience challenge. Research data are needed to develop evidence-based strategies to reduce adverse psychological effects and psychiatric symptoms during the epidemic. This study aims to determine the relationship between nurses’ stigma andpersonal well-being in the first stage of the Covid-19 epidemic in Turkey. It is thought that the results obtained will contribute to the correct management of human behavior in current and future epidemics and will guide policymakers. Methods: A total of 301 nurses working in the surgical clinics and operating rooms of two separate public hospitals operating in Istanbul between 1 -15 May 2020. It was aimed to reach the whole population by not choosing a sample. However, 82 nurses were excluded due to the shift work system, being on leave, and not participating in the study. The research was carried out with 219 participating nurses. Data were collected with the Individual Information Form, which included demographic questions created by the researchers, and the Stigma in Pandemics scale. SPPS 25.0 statistical package program was used to evaluate the data. Results: The mean score of the Stigma Scale in Pandemics of the nurses was X? = 3.38±0.8, and the mean score of the Personal Well-Being Scale was X? = 68.75±5.5 “as moderate. In addition, it was determined that nurses’ fear of contagion or contagion and social isolation sub-dimensions scores were high, and the scores of being exposed to written and verbal attacks were low.According to the results of the correlation analysis, the relationship between the stigma of nurses and their well-being in the Covid-19 pandemic is negative and at a low level. Discussion and Conclusion: Nurses feel moderately stigmatized by the society in the Covid-19 pandemic, which negatively affects their subjective well-being.