부산대학교 도서관

Purpose: During the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care facility nursing assistants faced various stresses and concerns, significantly affecting their physical and mental health. This study aims to investigate the current status and correlation between work stress and the physical and mental health of nursing assistants in long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted targeting nursing assistants in residential long-term care facilities. The questionnaire included sections on work stress, physical and mental health, and demographic information. 250 questionnaires were distributed, with 243 valid responses obtained, resulting in an effective response rate of 97.2%. Results: Among the 243 nursing assistants, the majority were aged 26-40 (43.62%), and predominantly female (70.78%). During the COVID-19 pandemic, most nursing assistants experienced severe work stress (40.33%). The main sources of stress were discomfort from protective equipment, followed by the burden of caring for residents, and concerns about social isolation. The top three aspects of physical and mental health were 'Depression and poor family interactions,' 'Anxiety and worries,' and 'Physical symptoms.' The study revealed a significant correlation between work stress and the physical and mental health of nursing assistants. Conclusions: The findings of this study can serve as a reference for monitoring the work stress of nursing assistants in residential long-term care facilities in the future, and can help provide support and intervention measures. It is recommended that managers of long-term care facilities create a supportive work environment and implement effective support strategies to increase nursing assistants job stability and enhance the quality of care.