The effect of COVID-19 fear on midwifery students anxiety, self-confidence

BACKGROUND: Several studies have investigated independently of clinical education, it has been emphasized that students experience fear, anxiety, sadness and uncertainty during the pandemic. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effect of fear of COVID‑19 on the level of anxiety and self‑confidence of midwifery students who did their clinical internship during the pandemic. METHODS: Convenience sampling yielded 181 senior midwifery students who had experienced clinical internships during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Two state universities conducted an online cross‑sectional predictive study from February to June 2021. Data were collected by an Information Form, the COVID‑19 Fear Scale, the State‑Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Self‑Confidence Scale. RESULTS: The study findings were that the students’ fear of COVID‑19 (16.72 ± 4.89), state anxiety (52.65 ± 8.41), and trait anxiety (48.66 ± 6.80) were above average, and their self‑confidence was moderate. The result indicated that midwifery students’ fear of COVID‑19 increased, their state anxiety increased (p < 0.01), and their self‑confidence decreased (p < 0.01). Fear of COVID‑19 accounted for 47% of state anxiety, 6% of trait anxiety, and 22% of self‑confidence. CONCLUSION: The level of COVID‑19 fear of midwifery students who did clinical internships during the pandemic negatively affected their anxiety and self‑confidence levels (Tab. 4, Ref. 34). Text in PDF www.elis.sk