FREQUENCY OF DEPRESSION IN NURSES WORKING IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL OF ISLAMABAD

Abstract

Background: Health workers especially nurses are an important Human resources available in the hospitals and their safety, security, physical and mental fitness is very crucial for the better care of patients. Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study which was conducted on nurses working in a federal government tertiary care hospital in Islamabad between the age of 25 to 40 years. The total sample size was 250, derived from departments of Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Mother and Child Health Centre (MCH), Emergency, Operation Theatre (OT). Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Pretested modified form of Agha Khan University's Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to collect data on depression. The overall response rate was 93.2%. Analysis was done by using SPSS version 20. Chi square test was performed to determine the association of depression in nurses with deployment at different departments. Resutts: This study showed that the overall prevalence of depression in nurses was 92%, out of which 37% were suffering from mild depreSSion, 41 % were suffering from moderate depression and 14% were suffering from severe depression. The greatest level of depression was found in nurses who were working in Emergency, Operation Theatre (OT). Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Conclusion: This study concludes that the frequency of depression among nurses is high. which is affecting their mental and physical health.