Psychological Distress among Bone Marrow Transplant Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Medical College Hospital

Abstract

Background: Bone marrow transplant (BMT) nurses have an innate exposure to psychological distress because they are frequently challenged with ethical issues and deaths while providing critical care. Although they are more prone to psychological distress, there is paucity of data addressing it. This study addresses this research gap by evaluating bone marrow transplant nurses’ psychological distress. Method: A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire survey to examine whether bone marrow transplant nurses self reported psychological distress was associated with their work and it was measured using DASS21 scale to assess depression, anxiety, and stress. The sample was drawn from a population of nurses (n=28) who worked in Pediatric and Adult BMT units of a tertiary Hospital. Results: The statistical sample of the study consisted of 28 nurses. The response rate was 100%. The majority of nurses were males (60.71%). The mean age was 32.4 years and the mean years of experience was 8.14 years. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ\rho) is 1. The rankings for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress are identical across the categories, which suggests that the staff's level of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress are perfectly aligned. Conclusion: Psychological distress is a common issue among bone marrow transplant nurses, stemming from the emotional and physical challenges of caring for critically ill patients. This distress can lead to significant consequences for both nurses and patients, including burnout, decreased quality of care, and high turnover rates.