Comparing the Quality of Life of Nurses Working in COVID-19 Referral Hospitals and Other Hospitals in Iran

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed nurses to many stressful conditions that may affect their quality of life. This study aims to compare the quality of life of nurses working in COVID-19 referral hospitals and other hospitals in Iran. Methods: This descriptive -comparative study was conducted on 122 nurses working in COVID-19 referral hospitals and other hospitals in Sabzevar, Iran in May 2020, who were selected using a convenience sampling method. The 36-item short form survey (SF-36) was used to collect information online. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS software, version 16. P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results: The Mean age of participants in the COVID-19 referral hospital was 32.38±7.158 years and in other hospitals it was 35.08±.6.547 years. Most of nurses (58%) had a moderate quality of life. Marital status (P= 0.008), exposure to COVID-19 (P=0.034) and underlying diseases (P=0.031) had a statistically significant relationship with the quality of life (QoL). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the total score of SF-36. Conclusion: Due to the prevalence of COVID-19 and its negative effects on the quality of life of nurses, it is recommended to take the necessary measures such as social participation, planning for greater welfare of nurses, and adjusting the working hours in order to improve the QoL of nurses during the pandemic.