ASSESS THE LEVEL OF ANXIETY AMONG CRITICAL CARE NURSES IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS PESHAWAR

Abstract

Introduction: Critical care nursing is widely recognized as one of the most stressful areas of healthcare due to the high demands, emotional burden, and responsibility associated with patient care. Persistent exposure to traumatic events, including frequent encounters with death, time pressures, and heavy workloads, contribute significantly to elevated anxiety levels among nurses. This study aimed to assess the level of anxiety among critical care nurses working in tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan, and to identify prevalent anxiety-related symptoms impacting their well-being and job performance.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. The study was conducted in the adult Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of three tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar: Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital, and Hayatabad Medical Complex. A total of 97 registered nurses were selected through a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a validated, self-administered questionnaire comprising demographic information and 14 anxiety-related items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0, applying descriptive statistics to summarize the data.

Results: The findings revealed that a majority of nurses experienced moderate levels of anxiety, particularly in domains such as anxious mood (44.3%), tension (46.4%), insomnia (44.3%), respiratory (45.4%), gastrointestinal (49.5%), and behavioral symptoms (59.8%). Severe and very severe anxiety symptoms were present but less common. Demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, and education level showed significant correlations with anxiety levels. Overall, 99% of the respondents reported experiencing some form of anxiety, with many symptoms clustering in the mild-to-moderate range.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that critical care nurses in Peshawar face moderate but widespread anxiety, with symptoms spanning physical, emotional, and behavioral domains. The high prevalence of anxiety underscores the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions, including stress management training, counseling services, and organizational support, to improve nurses' psychological well-being and safeguard patient care quality in high-stress environments.