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PTSD Prevalence and Factors in Intern Nursing Students after COVID-19
Full Liberalization in China: A Cross-sectional Study

1
Y. Sun and T. Yuan 2

Department of Graduate School, Wannan Medical College, China and Department of Gynecology
1 2
and Obstetrics Nursing, School of Nursing, Wannan Medical College, China

Background: After the full liberalization of COVID-19, the impact has not been evaluated among the
intern nursing students in China who were providing health care, when Omicron variant infections
spread rapidly and the surge in cases led to another large-scale epidemic.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
and its influencing factors among intern nursing students after the full liberalization of the COVID-19
prevention and control policy in China.

Methods: Participants completed the online survey from January 14 to January 19, 2023. A demographic
questionnaire, COVID-19 and internship-related questionnaire, the Fear of COVID-19 scale, the Primary Care
PTSD Screen, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were used to conduct the online survey.

Results: Of 438 participants, (88.4%) tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 6 months. The prevalence of
fear, resilience, and PTSD was 25.6%, 15.5%, and 11.2% respectively. Fear of a second or third wave pandemic
(P =0.000), direct care of COVID patients in hospital (P =0.003), the experience of occupational exposure
(P =0.000), working with an experienced team (P =0.000), and fear COVID-19 (P =0.000) were significantly
and positively associated with PTSD in nursing internship students. While resilience was negatively
associated with PTSD in participants (P =0.016).

Conclusion: After COVID-19 full liberalization in China, intern nursing students still experienced
pandemic-related mental distress, which can bring PTSD. Adequate support and counseling should
Poster Presentation Abstracts
be provided, as needed, to intern nursing students who are about to enter the workforce and have
experienced severe PTSD symptoms related to COVID-19. Our findings indicated that should
understand the importance of screening, formulate intervention strategies and preventive measures
to address psychosocial problems, and provide coping skills training to intern nursing students.

Keywords: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, resilience, fear, intern nursing students, COVID-19, China

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Correspondence: Ting Yuan, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Nursing, School of Nursing,
Wannan Medical College, China
E-mail: yuanting@wnmc.edu.cn

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