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Validation of the Canadian English and French Versions of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale in Quebec Nursing Staff

Author

Listed:
  • Céline Gélinas

    (Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2M7, Canada
    Centre for Nursing Research and Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Marc-André Maheu-Cadotte

    (Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1A8, Canada
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Élisabeth Di Nardo

    (Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2M7, Canada)

  • Mélanie Lavoie-Tremblay

    (Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1A8, Canada)

  • Maria Cecilia Gallani

    (Faculty of Nursing, Université Laval, Montreal, QC G1V 0A6, Canada)

  • Émilie Gosselin

    (School of Nursing, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada)

  • Christine Maheu

    (Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2M7, Canada
    Cancer Research Program, Research Institute—McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H3H 2R9, Canada)

  • Sylvie D. Lambert

    (Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2M7, Canada
    Research Centre, St-Mary’s Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1M5, Canada)

  • Melissa Richard-Lalonde

    (Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2M7, Canada)

  • Eric Tchouaket Nguemeleu

    (Department of Nursing, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC J7Z 0B7, Canada)

  • José Côté

    (Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1A8, Canada
    CHUM Research Centre, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada)

Abstract

Nursing staff have been at the forefront of the pandemic, reporting high traumatic stress and anxiety levels related to high fear of COVID-19. Recommendations from previous studies include using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) as a screening tool to identify any individuals who may benefit from targeted psychological support. Thus far, the accuracy of the Canadian English and French versions of FCV-19S to detect high levels of traumatic stress and anxiety symptoms has not been examined. The objectives of this methodological psychometric study were to examine among nursing staff: (a) the structure and internal consistency of the Canadian versions of the FCV-19S and (b) its ability in detecting high levels of traumatic stress and anxiety symptoms. An anonymous online survey was distributed among nursing staff ( n = 387) in the province of Quebec (Canada). This survey included the FCV-19S and scales measuring their traumatic stress (PCL-5) and anxiety symptoms (GAD-7). Exploratory factor analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed. The one-factor structure of the FCV-19S was supported (Cronbach alpha = 0.87). The FCV-19S showed better accuracy for the detection of traumatic stress (area under the curve (AUC) 0.75 [95% CI 0.68, 0.82]) in comparison to anxiety symptoms (AUC 0.65 [95% CI 0.60, 0.74]). The FCV-19S may benefit from adaptation for its use in nursing staff and in a future pandemic context.

Suggested Citation

  • Céline Gélinas & Marc-André Maheu-Cadotte & Élisabeth Di Nardo & Mélanie Lavoie-Tremblay & Maria Cecilia Gallani & Émilie Gosselin & Christine Maheu & Sylvie D. Lambert & Melissa Richard-Lalonde & Eri, 2025. "Validation of the Canadian English and French Versions of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale in Quebec Nursing Staff," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(2), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:2:p:297-:d:1592800
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Changnam Kim & Oli Ahmed & Washington Allysson Dantas Silva & C. Hyung Keun Park & Soyoung Yoo & Seockhoon Chung, 2022. "Applicability and Psychometric Comparison of the General-Population Viral Anxiety Rating Scales among Healthcare Workers in the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Mehwish Majeed & Muhammad Irshad & Jos Bartels, 2021. "The Interactive Effect of COVID-19 Risk and Hospital Measures on Turnover Intentions of Healthcare Workers: A Time-Lagged Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Wanqiu Yang & Peng Li & Yubo Huang & Xiao Yang & Wei Mu & Wangwei Jing & Xiaohong Ma & Xiangyang Zhang, 2022. "Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale for Chinese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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