Investigating the Effect of Psychological Capital on Evidence-Based Clinical Practice of Nurses in Dealing With Patients With Coronavirus Disease: The Mediating Role of Psychological Security

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus pandemic has caused fear and anxiety worldwide, especially amongst nurses. Examining the psychological effects of this disease on the mental health of nurses involved in the care of patients with this infection is critically important. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the nurses’ psychology capital and their views on mental security, job satisfaction and clinical performance. Methods: One hundred consenting nurses from a university general hospital in Arak, Iran, completed three well-established questionnaires that asked about their psychology knowledge, views on mental security and clinical performance. The data were analyzed statistically, using confirmatory factor analysis and partial least squares method. Also, the path analysis test, t-test and regression beta coefficient were used to test the study’s four hypotheses on psychological capital and security. Results: The findings indicated that there were significant relationships, based on the theoretical model, amongst the nurses’ views on their psychology knowledge (or capital) and that it had a positive and significant effect on nurses' psychological security for working with COVID-19 patients. Also, the knowledge positively impacted their clinical performance and professional efficacy, while improving their sense of optimism, patience and hope for future. Conclusions: There were positive interactions between the nurses’ psychological capital and the clinical performance, mental security, optimism and hope. Nurses with psychology capital had less worries on these subjects than those who lacked it. Such nurses believed they were more resourceful and able to provide better care to patients with coronavirus infection than those who lacked the knowledge.