Abstract
Healthcare is a challenging sector characterized by high level of responsibilities and frequent encounters with traumatic events, which heightens risk of developing symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (1). The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has made healthcare professionals, especially nurses, more vulnerable to developing PTSD symptoms (2). PTSD affects not only on their personal well-being but also the quality of care they provide to patients (3). Various interventions have been proposed to mitigate PTSD symptoms, but their effectiveness remains uncertain.
This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for reducing PTSD and related symptoms such as anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout among nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The database search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, and APA PsycINFO, without limitation on the year of publication. The review included studies with nurses, with no restrictions on the types of interventions or control conditions. The primary outcome was PTSD, and the included study designs were randomized controlled trial (RCT) and quasi-experimental studies. Due to heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes, meta-analysis was not conducted. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.
Out of 2,666 studies, 13 were included in the review. Commonly employed interventions included Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (n=3), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy combined with mindfulness (n=2), and self-help (n=2). Intervention durations ranged from 2 weeks to 12 weeks, with 12 weeks being the most prevalent (n=4). Given the social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, most studies employed online delivery methods. Most interventions demonstrated limited efficacy in reducing PTSD symptoms, with only five studies showing statistically significant improvements. Additionally, interventions showed significant improvements in anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout symptoms.
The evidence suggests potential benefits of various interventions for PTSD among nurses, but the heterogeneity and methodological limitations of the studies prevent definitive conclusions. Larger, more robust RCTs using standardized measurements are needed to determine the most effective and feasible interventions.
Notes
References:
1. Schuster M, Dwyer PA. Post-traumatic stress disorder in nurses: An integrative review. J Clin Nurs. 2020;29(15-16):2769-87.
2. Kunz M, Strasser M, Hasan A. Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on healthcare workers: systematic comparison between nurses and medical doctors. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2021;34(4):413-9.
3. Liyanage S, Addison S, Ham E, Hilton NZ. Workplace interventions to prevent or reduce post-traumatic stress disorder and symptoms among hospital nurses: A scoping review. J Clin Nurs. 2022;31(11-12):1477-87.
Sigma Membership
Lambda Alpha at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Systematic Review
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Stress and Coping, Workforce, Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary
Recommended Citation
Park, Gyeryung; Park, Jeongok; lee, Kyungjin; Lee, Hyojin; and Kim, Youngkyung, "Interventions for Reducing PTSD Among Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review" (2025). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 133.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2025/presentations_2025/133
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Interventions for Reducing PTSD Among Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Healthcare is a challenging sector characterized by high level of responsibilities and frequent encounters with traumatic events, which heightens risk of developing symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (1). The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has made healthcare professionals, especially nurses, more vulnerable to developing PTSD symptoms (2). PTSD affects not only on their personal well-being but also the quality of care they provide to patients (3). Various interventions have been proposed to mitigate PTSD symptoms, but their effectiveness remains uncertain.
This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for reducing PTSD and related symptoms such as anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout among nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The database search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, and APA PsycINFO, without limitation on the year of publication. The review included studies with nurses, with no restrictions on the types of interventions or control conditions. The primary outcome was PTSD, and the included study designs were randomized controlled trial (RCT) and quasi-experimental studies. Due to heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes, meta-analysis was not conducted. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.
Out of 2,666 studies, 13 were included in the review. Commonly employed interventions included Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (n=3), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy combined with mindfulness (n=2), and self-help (n=2). Intervention durations ranged from 2 weeks to 12 weeks, with 12 weeks being the most prevalent (n=4). Given the social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, most studies employed online delivery methods. Most interventions demonstrated limited efficacy in reducing PTSD symptoms, with only five studies showing statistically significant improvements. Additionally, interventions showed significant improvements in anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout symptoms.
The evidence suggests potential benefits of various interventions for PTSD among nurses, but the heterogeneity and methodological limitations of the studies prevent definitive conclusions. Larger, more robust RCTs using standardized measurements are needed to determine the most effective and feasible interventions.
Description
Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, face a high risk of PTSD, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of interventions to reduce PTSD among nurses during COVID-19. Among 2,666 studies, 13 meet the inclusion criteria. Interventions showed limited efficacy for PTSD, and alleviated anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout symptoms. More robust RCTs are needed to draw definitive conclusions.