The Influence of Infection Control Knowledge, Emergency Nursing Competency, and Infection Prevention Environment on Burnout among Psychiatric Nurses Caring for Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Purpose: Psychiatric nurses lack experience caring for patients with acute physical illnesses. Notably, they are expected to have experienced burnout when they were taking care of mentally ill patients infected with COVID-19. This study aimed to determine the impact of infection control knowledge, emergency nursing competency, and infection prevention environment on burnout.Methods: This survey was conducted on 127 psychiatric nurses from February to March 2023 using a structured self-report questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed through multiple regression analysis using the SPSS 28.0 program.Results: The subject's burnout score was 2.83 out of 5, infection control knowledge was 0.69 out of 1, emergency nursing competency was 2.80 out of 4, and infection prevention environment was 3.83 out of 5. Regression analysis showed infection control knowledge (β=-.17, <i>p</i>=.048) and nurses’ self-perceived efficacy in responding to an emergency (β=.26, <i>p</i>=.002) were factors affecting burnout, and the explanatory power for burnout was 9% (F=7.22, <i>p</i><.001).Conclusion: Based on these results, we believe that infection control is needed. In addition, rather than simply providing education to increase nurses' emergency nursing competence, educational measures are needed to increase nurses' sense of efficacy in responding to emergencies.