Personal Protective Equipment and Mental Health Symptoms Among Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Arnetz, Judith E; Goetz, Courtney M; Sudan, Sukhesh; Arble, Eamonn; Janisse, James; Arnetz, Bengt B

OBJECTIVE To determine the association between access to adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and mental health outcomes among a sample of U.S. nurses. METHODS An online questionnaire was administered in May 2020 to Michigan nurses via three statewide nursing organizations (n = 695 respondents). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with mental health symptoms. RESULTS Nurses lacking access to adequate PPE (24.9%, n = 163) were more likely to report symptoms of depression (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.31, 2.94; p = .001), anxiety (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.12, 2.40; p = .01) and post-traumatic stress disorder (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.22, 2.74; p = .003). CONCLUSIONS Healthcare organizations should be aware of the magnitude of mental health problems among nurses and vigilant in providing them with adequate PPE as the pandemic continues.