title: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak perceptions of risk and stress evaluation in nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Saudi Arabia was affected by an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). We aimed to determine the perception of risk and level of stress among nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire survey was administered to determine the perceptions of risk of MERS-CoV infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the participants were females (332; 86.0%), and there were 54 (14.0%) males. Of the 386 respondents, nurses constituted the majority of the respondents (293; 75.9%), and there were 34 doctors (8.8%). The percentage of exposure was found to be greater in those who were working in the intensive care unit (ICU) (89; 23%). There was a significant difference in the worry and fear scale of contracting the MERS-CoV infection between participants who worked in isolation areas, ICUs, and emergency rooms (mean: 3.01±1.1) compared to participants who worked in areas that are less likely to admit and have MERS-CoV suspected or positive cases (mean: 2.77±1.1; p = 0.031. Females were significantly more worried and fearful of contracting the virus compared to males (mean: 2.92±1.1 versus 2.61±1.0, respectively; p = 0.045).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MERS-CoV caused a relatively significant level of distress among nurses. There was a difference in the worry and fear scale of contracting the MERS-CoV infection between participants who worked in areas likely to admit and have MERS-CoV suspected or positive cases. After the campaign, the level of confidence got higher and the participants were more adherent to the infection control precautions.
authors: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ebukhari@ksu.edu.sa.
authors: Elham Essa
authors: EE
authors: Bukhari
authors: Mohamad Hani
authors: MH
authors: Temsah
authors: Ayman A
authors: AA
authors: Aleyadhy
authors: Abdulkareem A
authors: AA
authors: Alrabiaa
authors: Ali An
authors: AA
authors: Alhboob
authors: Amr A
authors: AA
authors: Jamal
authors: Abdulaziz A
authors: AA
authors: Binsaeed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult