Background: Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders globally, and is thus a major public health problem. It is a major cause of disability and contributor to the global burden of disease. Specifically, previous studies have shown that depression affects nurses and there are risk factors associated with it. Early detection is crucial to reduce the costs associated with depression.
Objective: This study measured the prevalence of depression and determined its risk factors among nurses.
Methods: A Cross-Sectional Study was conducted among 671 nurses working in hospitals. The Patient Health Questionnaire was utilized, which is a validated self-administered depression scale. Data concerning demographical characteristics and work-related variables were collected to assess risk factors associated with the prevalence of depression.
Findings: Among participants, 52% (350) experienced depression with diverse severity: mild (57%), moderate (29%), moderately severe (11%), and severe (3%). A multivariate analysis revealed varied predictors of depression: nationality, family history of depression, negative life events, job dissatisfaction, a long working week, little or no physical exercise, and working the night shift for two weeks or longer.
Conclusions: Depression is a critical issue among nurses. It can negatively affect their productivity. Therefore, providing mental health education and psychiatry specialists in each hospital is necessary to address nurses’ psychological problems and meet their mental health needs. In addition, nurses needed to be continuously monitored by their superiors for detection of any work problems so that suitable solutions can be devised within a reasonable period.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
This work is licensed under a